Young people at risk of falling into the clutches of criminal gangs will be offered free family therapy under a new council scheme.

Redbridge Council will provide at risk youngsters and their families a specialist clinical therapist who will work with the family over a three to five-month period.

It is the first time the bespoke family therapy programme, Families are Forever, will be delivered outside of the US.

Cllr Elaine Norman, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Deterring young people away from gangs and criminality is an absolute priority for us.

“We want to give our young people the best opportunities and starts in life, as well as the support they need when they need it.

“This innovative new service will help us provide the support and expertise needed to intervene, where young people have been identified as being at risk of gang involvement and exploitation.”

The programme was given the greenlight following a successfully bid by the council and Family Psychology Mutual for £781,055 through the Youth Endowment Fund.

It’s the first funding of its kind to be awarded to the borough by The Youth Endowment Fund - an independent organisation founded with a £200m Home Office investment, as part of the government's Serious Violence Strategy.

Tom Jefford, business development director at Family Psychology Mutual, said: “This clinical adaptation of Functional Family Therapy is new to the UK and so we hope to make a valuable contribution to reduce the risks posed to vulnerable young people by gang involvement by adding specialist family work to the interventions already in place.”