Mr Marsden said “I have lobbied ministers strongly for this initiative and about the pressures on family life in seaside towns like Blackpool. I am pleased that Blackpool will receive £780 thousand over the next three years to build on existing good practice, where services delivered by the public, private and voluntary sectors all have the interests of families at their heart.”

Mr Marsden welcomed the news that Blackpool will be at the forefront of the “Think Family” approach announced by the Government, to support families providing a tailored package of support for families with multiple problems.

Mr Marsden commented “This new approach ensures that adults’ services consider the whole family when dealing with people, and that they build on individual family strengths and tailor support to the family circumstances. There should be no wrong door to getting the help people need or the service people want. “

“Blackpool is one of the first parts of the country to have been chosen to get this funding. It will mean we can be right at the forefront of supporting families who are struggling to deal with unemployment, mental ill health and other difficulties.”