Leaving care

Young Person’s Guide to Leaving Care.

Click below to download the guide. You can choose from an illustrated or text-only version:

The Become Charity has some helpful Factsheets for young people who are leaving care. Click here to find them.

Click on the topics below for some important information for care leavers:

Planning for Leaving Care

Where will I live?

Managing Money

Education, Training and Work

Preparing to leave care

Young people should be supported in developing life skills – self-care, practical and interpersonal skills – from the start of the placement until the day they leave. See the Life Skills Development area for guidance in relation to this task.

Here are a few helpful resources for young people who are ready to move to their own independent accommodation:

Government policies and guidance for care leavers

Care Leaver Strategy

Keep On Caring

Care Leaver Covenant

Extending PA support to 25

Homelessness Code of Guidance

Local Connection rules (see 10.17-10.20)

Apprenticeship Bursary

Helpful websites for care leavers

Become Charity

Turn2Us

Care Leavers Association

Rees Foundation

Princes Trust

Citizens Advice Service (CAB)

Step Change (debt charity)

The Spark Foundation