What is a Care Leaver?

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A care experienced young person can describe anyone who has lived in care, whether that’s with a foster family, in a residential home or in kinship care. However, the term care leaver is often used to describe a young person who has been cared for by a foster parent for a given period since they were 14 years old or were in care on or after their 16th birthday.

Once a child in care turns 18, they are no longer required to live in foster care and may therefore become a care leaver. However, whilst the official leaving age in the UK is 18, children can leave care as early as 16 years old, should they wish to.

Regardless of age, all care leavers are entitled to receive support from their local council as they start navigating adulthood. Care experienced young adults may also be entitled to care leaver support if they were placed with a friend or relative under a Special Guardianship Order.

Support for Care Leavers

Leaving home and entering adulthood is a daunting experience for any young person. But for young people who have been in foster care, there can be extra stress and pressure when compared to their non-fostered peers. With around 10,000 care leavers in the UK each year, our team at Capstone Foster Care work closely with care leavers, carers and local authorities to ensure a seamless transition out of care, whilst empowering our young people to embrace their independence.

Each young person leaving care is entitled to the following support:

A Pathway Plan
Financial Support and Accommodation (18 and Under)
To Stay with their Foster Parents (21 and Under)

Pathway Plan

Young people in care will receive their Pathway Plan when they are 16, so they can begin planning for the future. A personal advisor will also be assigned to the care leaver to support them with developing and executing their Pathway Plan. This plan includes details on higher education, employment, health, finances and contact with family. Each plan is unique and designed to reflect the young person’s wishes and aspirations and is reviewed at least once every six months to ensure it is updated regularly, and the young person is receiving sufficient support.

Advisors must attend Plan Pathway reviews until the care leaver is 21. However, many young adults extend this service until they reach the age of 25.

Additional care leaver support

Care leavers can also receive financial support in the form of:

Home allowances
Benefits
Educational Bursaries

Care leavers are also encouraged to discuss their eligibility for grants and charities with their advisors. Below, we’ve outlined some notable trusts, charities and programs that offer trusted support to care experienced young people as they prepare to transition out of care.

Capstone Care Leavers Trust

The Capstone Care Leavers Trust offers financial funding, educational support, and job opportunities for care experienced young people. Our Trust status is something we're incredibly proud of, and we work hard to invest in our children and young people throughout every phase of their fostering journey.

Staying Put Program

The 'Staying Put' program has been designed to help children who would benefit from an extended stay with their foster family. The choice to stay put can be due to financial instability, vulnerability, delayed maturity or time to finish their education. However, it’s important to note that after 18, the young person is no longer considered a child in care, despite remaining with their foster family.

Care Leavers Bursary

Care leavers are also entitled to various bursaries and grants from the government - these are available for those who wish to go into higher education or an apprenticeship scheme. For care leavers pursuing an apprenticeship, they are eligible for a £1000 bursary, paid by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

If a care leaver wishes to go to university, they are also entitled to various payment schemes known as Care and Foyer Leavers Funding. These schemes offer bursaries of up to £9000 each year. However, the amount of funding a care leaver might receive is dependent on the type of funding their UCAS choices provide.

Care Leavers Association

The Care Leavers Association is a charity-led organisation designed to enrich the lives of young people leaving care. With a huge network and wealth of resources available, they actively support care leavers whilst striving to continually improve the care system.

To learn more about care leavers and the support available to them, contact our team at Capstone Foster Care or visit the Capstone Care Leavers Trust website for further information.

How we support our Care Leavers

At Capstone Foster Care, we invest in children’s futures. Providing practical support beyond placement, we’re passionate about helping young people transition confidently into adulthood.

With our Capstone Care Leavers Trust, we not only provide advice, guidance and a listening ear, we also award financial grants to young people leaving care. Whether investing in their education, study materials or household essentials, we’re with you every step of the way.

Thinking of fostering?

If you’ve got any questions or would like to find out more about fostering with Capstone, fill out the form below.
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