Leaving care (Local Offer for Care Leavers)

There is a range of financial help available to support you when you leave care.

Accommodation and moving home

• Council Tax
  If you are a care leaver you do not have to pay Council Tax if you are under the age of 25. See Council Tax: Leaving care discount. If you don't live in South Tyneside, we will make sure that you do not have to pay Council Tax where you live. Ask your personal adviser for more information.
• Setting up home allowance
  We may provide you with goods up to the value of £3000 towards the cost of setting up your home. This allowance is not paid as a cash lump sum. You can get the allowance up to the age of 25, or later in certain circumstances.
  • Starter pack
    When you move into your own accommodation for the first time you will be given a 'starter pack', including £50 towards food and cleaning materials, and £50 for gas and electricity.
  • Personal luggage
    We will make sure you have at least two items of suitable personal luggage up to a cost of £40.
  • TV licence
    We will pay for your first TV licence.
  • Home insurance
    We will give you up to £110 towards home insurance when you move into your first own home.
  • Removal and transport costs
    We will give you up to £100 towards removal and transport costs when you move into your first own home.
  • Cooker and washer connection costs
    We will pay £110 towards cooker and washer connection costs when you move into your first own home.
• Financial help
  As well as your setting up home allowance, we also offer financial help with:
  • Personal luggage
    We will make sure you have at least two items of suitable personal luggage up to a cost of £40.
  • Heating your home
    You may get help towards the cost of heating your home. This is a known as a Winter Fuel Payment. You will get the payment from November until March, paid at the end of each month.
• Cost of Living
  If you are struggling with the cost of living you can speak to your personal advisor for more information and advice. You can also find helpful advice at cost of Living and welcoming places. This includes information on the financial support you can get from the council and government, as well as helpful information on benefits, debt support, food banks and welcoming places.

Education, training and employment

• Bills
  You may get a payment of up to £70 a month if you are in training or employment for more than 25 hours a week, and you are responsible for paying rent, gas, electricity and water bills. If you are in training or employment for fewer than 25 hours a week you may be entitled to a reduced amount. You will need to show that you have at least 90% attendance in your employment or training.
• Travel
  • You may be entitled to a free Nexus POP Smartcard travel pass. This pass provides unlimited travel on buses, Tyne and Wear metro, the South Shields Ferry, and Northern rail services between Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead and Blaydon. Passes expire on your 25th birthday. Get in touch with your personal advisor to find out more. 
  • If you have to travel far to attend training or employment, we may provide you with extra help for your travel costs. If you are starting a job, we can help with travel costs to and from work until you get your first wage.
• Driving lessons
  If you are 17 to 25, we may pay for one provisional driving licence, one theory test, one practical test and the cost of 5 (1 hour) motor car driving lessons to introduce you to driving. To be eligible for this offer, you must:
  • be in work or learning for at least 3 months
  • not have any driving convictions
  • be able to pay for 5 lessons yourself

Meeting the eligibility criteria above will allow you to have to have 10 trial lessons.

• Education bonus (£25)
  If you are eligible and have left care, you will get an education bonus of £25 when you complete a year of full-time equivalent study towards a recognised course of further / higher education.
• Higher education
  If you are in higher education, you may get financial support up to £7000 per year towards accommodation costs. 
• Apprenticeship grant
  If you are in higher education, you may get financial support up to £7000 per year towards accommodation costs.

Activities

• Free gym, swim and fitness classes (Leisure Card)
  You can get free access to gym, swim, fitness classes, and sauna and steam rooms at Council leisure centres if you are aged 14 to 17 and in care, or aged up to 25 and are a care leaver. You can also get free entry for a carer, family member or friend who goes with you. If you do not live in South Tyneside, we will try and find a similar offer where you live. Contact your social worker or personal adviser for more information.
• Events
  We may give you up to £100 to support you to attend a major cultural or social activity once a year. We may also give you up to £100 towards membership of a hobby or leisure club, and / or towards the cost of equipment or special clothing.