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Financial support

Eligibility

You may be able to get financial help, if:

  • You're over 16 years old and living semi-independently
  • You're 18 years old and a care leaver
  • You have no recourse to public funds

B&NES savings scheme

We have a scheme in place to provide a certain amount of money to young people leaving care, with a maximum amount of £1000. When you turn 18 years old, your Personal Adviser will help you use the money, which is intended to help you start out in adult life.

We can hold this money up to your 25th birthday to help you use it on a planned basis with your Personal Adviser, and with the agreement of our Team Manager. This money can be used to help pay for any of the following:

  • Driving lessons
  • Help towards buying a car
  • Gap year travel
  • Equipment for a course, career, hobby or leisure interest
  • Discretionary items when setting up home
  • Musical instrument

Junior ISA

If you've been in care for more than 12 months, you should also have a Junior ISA, which was set up with £200 by the Government. When you turn 18 years old, these accounts will be Adult ISAs or Adult Trust Funds, and you will be able to access this money.

We receive a letter from the scheme when you turn 18 years old, and then your Social Worker or Personal Adviser will be able to give you information about the money in your account, and advise you on how to access it. It's important that you think about what you want to spend it on (or save!), as once the money has been spent, it may be a long time before you're able to add to it again.

Accommodation and utility bills

To help you learn to budget and manage your finances in your first year living independently, we will pay up to £150 towards your Council Tax, if you're not eligible for BANES Council Tax Scheme (see 'Accommodation advice and support for care leavers' section for further details about the Council Tax Scheme).

We will also pay £150 towards the cost of your first year of utility bills (for example, water, gas and electric). Help will be paid in instalments on your key, token or bill, but not all at once and this is just for your first year of tenancy. Rents and deposits can be paid for care leavers when it's agreed you need to secure suitable accommodation.