Barking & Dagenham Children’s Fund: Early Outcomes Report

The Barking & Dagenham Children’s Fund is part of this national programme and is a key aspect of the government’s strategy to address child poverty and lack of opportunities for young people aged 5 to 13 years. BDCF started in April 2002 and the programme is overseen by the inter-agency Children’s Fund Committee (CFC). The local authority is the accountable body and the programme is managed by the Social Services Department. The BDCF identified four areas of need and funding is structured accordingly into the following themes: Education Health and Inequalities Disabilities Alternatives to Crime Between 2002 and 2004 the BDCF was allocated a total of approximately £1.6 million. A budget of £250,000 was granted in 2002 - 2003 for the street crime initiatives. In 2004 -2005 BDCF had a total allocation of £777, 638.2 This reduction is in line with a declining budget with other local Children’s Fund programme