The Family Returns pilot project started in June 2009. The UK Border Agency paid actual start up costs in 2009 of £63,343.62. The first financial year for the project is 2009-10 with the annual running costs being met through the current dispersal contract that the UK Border Agency has with Glasgow city council. Therefore, there is no additional funding allocated for the next three financial years. The project is due to run until 2012 but will be reviewed in 2010.
The cost of the Social Work Services provided by Glasgow City Council is met by the Scottish Government as social services is a devolved matter and the funding relates to two social workers and one social care worker.
The Project is for families only and will accommodate four to five families at any one time. At present there are five families participating in the scheme and there are no current plans to increase the size of the project which is monitored to assess how effective it is and whether any changes or improvements could or should be made. Upon its conclusion an independent evaluation will be conducted and the findings will be published.
To date (a) nine families have taken part in this project involving (b) a total of 36 individuals. These families consisted of: (c) five children aged 16 to 18 years, (d) seven aged 10 to under 16 years and 14 children under 10 years.