Senior councillors are being asked to give the go-ahead for nearly £400,000 to be spent to stop youngsters becoming involved in knife crime.

Members of Sandwell ’s cabinet are being asked to back the plan that will allow youth workers and their colleagues to prevent children being drawn into gangs.

The scheme comes after the government awarded £372,520 to the council from the Supporting Families Against Youth Crime fund which was set in October last year.

The authority is one of only 21 local authorities to receive money from the project.

Picture posed by model of a young person holding a knife
Picture posed by model of a young person holding a knife

The scheme  will enable keyworkers, community groups, teachers and other professionals working with children and young people, to intervene early and help stop them from becoming drawn into gang crime, serious violence and the youth justice system.

Sandwell council said the cash will be used to deliver a targeted one-to-one mentoring programme for at-risk students and parents which will include support in the community.

They will also work with parents through the programme ‘Triple P’, an evidence-based support system for the parents of vulnerable children.

Lesley Hagger, Sandwell Council's executive director for children's services, welcomed the funding boost. She said: "I'm pleased we have been successful in getting funds to support work to help families in Sandwell.

"I am also pleased we are being recognised on a national level for the good work we have already done. This extra money will help us and our partners continue to help vulnerable young people and make Sandwell a safer place."

The money given to Sandwell is part of a £9.5 million fund set out by the government's Communities Department to help families who are vulnerable to the devastating effects of knife crime and gang culture.

Sandwell cabinet will discuss the report on April 17.