Purpose

The Early Intervention and Prevention Grant (EIPG) is a time-limited grant that supports early intervention and prevention activity across Greater Manchester districts, including funding for youth justice worker posts. It helps youth justice services maintain capacity to work with children and young people at risk of entering or escalating within the justice system, supporting continuity of delivery while longer-term arrangements are developed.

This time-limited extension is needed to:
• Avoid youth justice services (YJS) losing EIPG-funded capacity at the end of March 2026, where districts have staff posts committed against EIPG.
• Maintain continuity of delivery while longer-term funding and delivery arrangements are developed and aligned with related programmes (e.g., Turnaround / core provision).
• Provide time for consultation and options development for future use of EIPG (including potential move toward commissioning and/or more bespoke activity).
• Maintain a holding position for April–September 2026 to avoid disruption to youth justice delivery while funding pots and longer-term delivery/commissioning arrangements are agreed.

Decision

The Decision is made to extend the Early Intervention and Prevention Grant (EIPG) for a further six months (1 April–30 September 2026), maintaining current arrangements, to enable youth justice workers funded through EIPG to remain in post until 30 September 2026 (subject to confirmation of district allocations).

Total value requested (6 months): Indicatively £247,500 for April–September 2026

On the previously referenced basis, this equates to £22,500 for 9 participating local authorities and £45,000 for Manchester Local authority for 6 months