I've seen first hand the pain kids go through

Minister on how to help more families to safety

- BY DAN WARBURTON

GROWING up on a tough street in the North East, I saw the damage of inaction firsthand.

And when I came back after university, I worked for a local refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

The pain and suffering I witnessed has stayed with me ever since - and now I'm determined to build a stronger system to support families and keep children safe.

The government is boosting funding for a programme designed to keep families together and stop kids being put into care.

An extra £547million has been confirmed over the next three years, bringing the budget for the Families First Partnership to £2.4billion.