Information and support for care leavers

We provide support and guidance to help care leavers prepare for adulthood and independent living. 

Find out more in our care leavers local offer for 2022.

This includes:

• advice and support from a Personal Adviser
• leaving care before turning 18
• accommodation
• education, employment and training
• going to university
• health and wellbeing
• finance, grants and loans

When you are 16 and 17, we will provide you with money to cover your basic needs, ie funding for accommodation, weekly allowance (for food, phone credit, toiletries etc) clothing allowance, as well as birthday and Christmas/festivals gifts.

Dependent on your circumstances you may also be entitled to help with:

• education/training or employment costs
• health and counselling needs
• leisure activities
• important documents ie birth certificate, passport
• contact with family and other important adults in your life
• incentive payments

If you are 18 years old and about to leave foster care or a children’s home, you may be eligible for leaving care services. 

You will be eligible for support at age 18 if:

• you have been in care for 13 weeks from the age of 14 and are still in care aged 16 to 17
• you have left care and are aged 16 or 17

It is important to talk to your Personal Advisor about the allowances that may be available to you and what your responsibilities are when receiving them.

If you are between the ages of 21 to 25 we will provide advice and assistance as and when you request it.

If you are struggling with a particularly difficult situation, we can provide a Personal Advisor to complete some targeted work with you to help you get back on your feet again.

This could be if you:

• have special educational needs or a disability and need some extra support or an assessment from adult services
• are an asylum seeking adult and your immigration status is unclear
• are in or leaving custody or you have had contact with the criminal justice system
• are a new parent
• are going through a difficult time in your personal life

If you ask us for support, we will always do our best to advise and assist you.

Your Personal Advisor (PA) is happy to support you but will need your consent to speak to other agencies such as housing, colleges or health services.

If you would like your PA to speak to other agencies on your behalf complete our online consent form.

Contact the Leaving Care Team on:

• [email protected]
• 01296 387 968