Financial support and assistance for 16 and 17 year olds

Care leavers support (16 to 17)

We will always help you financially by:

• providing information about money management support and financial advice
• supporting you to get your National Insurance Number
• providing information on how to access your Junior ISA or Child Trust Fund
• supporting you to meet any religious, faith or cultural needs when you are aged 16 and 17

We will support you to get important identification documents, such as:

• birth certificate
• passport (we will also support you to renew your passport so that you have a valid passport at least until age 25)
• citizenship card (if needed as a form of ID)

If you are eligible for the introduction to driving package, we will help you to obtain a provisional driving licence.

We will also provide financial support and crisis support in exceptional circumstances and in emergencies subject to assessing what you need.

Hobbies and leisure

We provide support for you to undertake hobbies and leisure activities when you are 16 and 17.

We will help you to get a ‘Better Leisure Pass’ and provide up to £10 per week to support activities you would like to do.

If you are living outside of Cumberland we will help you to get a local version of the ‘Better Leisure Pass'.

You can get a yearly life chances and social activity allowance of up to £130. This could enable you to take part in a sports or cultural activity or have a day out in London or Manchester (for example), your social worker will help you to organise the activity.

Clothing allowance and luggage

We can support you to get:

• an initial clothing allowance of up to £200 for young people who are newly cared for
• a clothing allowance that can be used weekly, monthly or six monthly to make sure you have enough warm and suitable clothing (£540 per year)
• at least two items of luggage so that when you go on holiday or move you have holdalls or suitcases

Driving lessons and test

We can provide an introduction to driving package of:

• a provisional driving licence
• two theory tests
• a theory test resource (booklet or app)
• 10 (one hour) driving lessons
• two practical driving tests

To qualify for the package, we will expect you to contribute to 10 lessons so that you have a set of at least 20 lessons, we will also require you to have no driving convictions.

The package can be used for a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) programme if it is needed to help with education, training or employment.

Travel costs

We can offer support with:

• travel costs
• visiting family, former foster carers and people who are important to you

Your health and wellbeing

We will support with:

• any counselling, therapy or health needs
• items you may need if you go into hospital
• specific items to help you live independently, such as a light system door alarm if you have difficulty hearing

Education, training, employment and apprenticeships

We will support you to:

• make sure you have internet access and access to a Smart Phone or laptop
• access the young person’s 16 to 19 bursary (if you do not qualify for the bursary but are doing full time training or study, we will provide the equivalent incentive)
• access the apprenticeship bursary (£3000 and £1000 equipment provided by the apprenticeship provider)

We support you with education, training, employment and apprenticeship activities such as:

• up to £50 for stationery
• up to £75 for educational visits (up to £150 if including overnight visits)
• up to £100 for books, equipment and IT equipment
• a prom allowance of £200 so that you can take part in a school prom

All young people entering a level two course or about will have access to a laptop, notepad or computer of up to £800 (£960 if Cumberland purchase the computer and can reclaim VAT).