We understand that one of your biggest concerns will be money. We'll support you in managing your money and help you understand how to spend it.
Understanding and managing your money
We will help you build the skills and confidence to:
- Manage your money and stick to a budget
- Understand bills, credit, borrowing, loans, overdrafts and mobile phone contracts
- Understand and access money held in your name, such as a Junior ISA, Child Trust Fund or other savings
- Make informed financial decisions and understand how they may affect your future
- Claim any benefits and financial support you are entitled to
- Avoid or manage debt and know where to get help
- Plan for unexpected costs and future goals
- Manage the costs of living independently and maintaining a tenancy
We will do this by:
- Offering the Money Ready Course, covering budgeting, bank accounts, savings, bills, borrowing, debt, benefits, scams and planning for the future
- Providing an Independence Booklet for young people aged 16 and over in foster care or our trainer flats
- Offering the Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN) award, which includes budgeting and money management
- Reviewing your money management and independent living skills through your Pathway Plan at least every 6 months
- Providing support from your Personal Adviser with rent, Council Tax, utility bills and other costs when moving into a new home
- Offering sessions and workshops about benefits and financial support
- Helping you use the budgeting calculator on the Bee Connected app to keep track of your income and spending
- Helping you access independent debt or financial advice, including Citizens Advice, if you need it
Financial support when leaving care
It's tough managing your own money for the first time.
We can:
- Give you a weekly allowance until your benefits start.
- Give you a birthday allowance of £75 on your 19th, 20th and 21st birthdays.
- Give you Setting Up Home Allowance of up to £3,000 to help you buy essential things when you move into your own home. The money is not provided as a lump sum and your Personal Advisor will help you to spend this gradually over your journey to independence. Your Personal Advisor can purchase your items online/locally with you or support you to go shopping. Sometimes we use the same suppliers which means they will give us a good price or discount.
- Providing you with an additional one-off payment of up to £250 if you're the parent of a child under one and they're living with you.
Care leaver's Council Tax discount
Once you've left care, you don't need to pay Council Tax until you turn 25 years old.
Financial help with learning to drive for care leavers
If you want to learn to drive and are in employment, training or education, we can help you by paying for:
- Your provisional driving licence.
- Up to 20 driving lessons, once you've funded the first 10.
- One driving theory test.
- One practical driving test.
Financial support for care leavers in an emergency
There may be times when you're struggling with money and need some help.
If you find you're struggling, speak to your personal adviser.
You can also find what support is available to help at these websites:
How to get financial support as a care leaver
To get our support you can:
- Get in touch with us using the contact details on this page
- Speak to your personal adviser or social worker