Financial support available for you from the Leaving Care Team
Find out about payments from the Leaving Care Team for birthdays, celebrations, young people in prison, driving lessons and food vouchers.
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Financial support available to Care Leavers from the Leaving Care Team
Birthdays
If you are a looked after child or a care leaver and you don't live in foster care, you'll get £25 for your birthday. If it's your 18th or 21st birthday you'll get £50!
You'll also get a birthday card from your PA from the Children Looked After and Leaving Care Service.
Christmas, Eid and Religious Celebrations
To celebrate important cultural and religious events children over 16 and living in semi-independent should have a gift purchased for them up to the value of £10. Children and young people under 16 should have a gift purchased by you up to the value of £5. This will be in addition to any gifts provided by residential homes or foster carers. **This must be a gift and not a voucher. **
Children in Care and Care Leavers who are living in Semi-Independent Accommodation or independently and are celebrating Eid may be given payment of up to £10 to contribute to celebrations.
**Payments to Young People in Prison **
Being in prison can be a very daunting experience. It may be a time period where you may worry about existing financial commitments, your career, your relationship with friends and family and life in general. We may not be able to make this go away but can support you by providing you an allowance of up to £10 per week. The purpose of this allowance is to enable you to call and make contact with your allocated PA or family.
**Driving Lessons **
We don't usually give money for driving lessons. But, if driving helps you with your career goals, you can ask for it and we will think about it. We can also help you apply for grants and funding for driving lessons if you want.
Food Vouchers
If you find yourself in a crisis and need support with groceries, you can ask your Personal Adviser about the possibility of receiving food vouchers. We offer food vouchers for a range of local supermarkets. Your worker will need to speak to a manager, who must approve this provision.
We can also refer you to the local food bank, which can provide you with a package of essential food items.