Children’s Fund projects in doubt

Projects run by some Children’s Fund partnerships may be under
threat because of underspending in the first half of the year,
Community Care‘s sister title 0-19 has
learned.

Partnerships in some areas will lose up to £300,000, even
though the money has already been allocated. One Children’s Fund
manager warned that the clawback could force local services for
children to close.

Uncertainty also surrounds next year’s Children’s Fund after the
decision to replace the Children and Young People’s Unit with the
Children and Young People’s Directorate.

Children’s Fund money was supposed to last until 2006, but there
are now fears that it could be diverted to other government
programmes.