Kent County Council has been granted £880,750 of Government money to help children and families in need or at risk.

The money is to be used to set up multi-agency support centres at six schools in the Thanet area of the county, which includes the towns of Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs.

The new support centres will enable specialists from social services, education, health services and police to provide an improved level of support to children and families whose welfare is of concern because of family breakdown, domestic violence, poor school performance, truanting and poor parenting.

To support this work, the council has set up a database of information so that the various agencies will be able to share data more effectively.

"Early intervention will be the core part of the initiative and the main focus of the team," says Keith Ferrin, chairman of social services. "Once a referral has been made, the team will decide on the most appropriate support.

"For example a child may require assistance with speech and language problems, behavioural problems, counselling or child protection, or a combined programme of support from a number of specialists.

"Support for families will include parenting skills, family numeracy and literacy skills courses, advice and counselling, anger management courses, out of school hours activities for children and drugs and alcohol support."

As well as help at the centres, families may also get visits in their homes from support workers who will give advice on child development, nutrition, housing and benefits, and domestic violence.