Care Leavers support and advice
Leaving care and becoming independent is a big step. You may have questions about where you will live, managing money, education and employment, your health, relationships or simply knowing where to go for support.
Stevenage Borough Council works with Hertfordshire County Council and other local organisations to support care leavers as they move into adulthood.
Stevenage Borough Council provides a range of services that can support care leavers. This page brings together information about the support available in Stevenage and links to services that can help you.
What you can expect
As a care leaver, you can expect support to help you:
- Access suitable housing and prevent homelessness
- Provide advice and support to help you maintain your tenancy
- Access welfare, benefits and debt advice
- Access employment, training and skills opportunities
- Access community, leisure and other local services
- Work with partners to support your health, wellbeing and safety
- By listening to your views and considering your needs when developing our services
- Work with Hertfordshire County Council and other partners so you can access the support you are entitled to.
Your support should reflect your individual circumstances and needs. If you are not sure what support is available, speak to your Personal Adviser.
Eligible care leavers can receive Personal Adviser support up to age 25. If you have lost contact with your Leaving Care Service, you can ask to re-engage with support.
Find out more on the Hertfordshire County Council webpages:
Housing and accommodation
We work with Hertfordshire County Council as part of the Hertfordshire Joint Housing Protocol and our Housing Allocation Scheme to help care leavers access social housing.
Support can include:
- Advice about your housing options
- Applying for social housing
- Support to move on from supported accommodation
- Preparing for your own tenancy
- Help to manage your tenancy
- Support with rent, bills and budgeting
- Help to prevent tenancy breakdown and homelessness
- Advice if you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
- Support to access private rented accommodation where appropriate.
Our officers work with young people and their Personal Advisers to assess readiness for independent living and provide support during the introductory tenancy. Ongoing support can be provided through the Tenancy Sustainment Service where needed.
Find out more:
If you are worried about losing your home, contact Housing Options as soon as possible. The Housing Options team provides free and confidential advice about housing problems.
Money, benefits and financial wellbeing
Managing money independently can be difficult, particularly when you are moving into your own home.
Stevenage Borough Council can provide or signpost advice about:
- Benefits and financial support
- Council Tax
- Budgeting
- Rent and household bills
- Debt and repayments
- Managing your finances
- Accessing further welfare advice.
Our Tenancy Support Service can help with budget plans, welfare benefit applications and accessing services such as banks and credit unions.
Our Welfare, Benefit and Debt Advice service can also provide advice about benefits and financial difficulties, including support with benefit applications, appeals and repayments.
Your Personal Adviser can explain the financial support and statutory entitlements available to you as a care leaver, including the Leaving Care/Setting Up Home Allowance and any education or training support.
Find out more:
- Debt Advice and Information
- Claim Council Tax Support
- Tenancy Support
- Care Leavers – Managing Your Money
Education, training and employment
We want care leavers to have the opportunity to develop their skills, continue their education, find employment and achieve their goals.
Support can include signposting to:
- Education and training
- Apprenticeships
- Employment opportunities
- Careers advice
- Skills development
- Volunteering and work experience
- Local employment and training opportunities.
Stevenage Works is a free local job and training hub, managed by Stevenage Borough Council in partnership with North Herts College, Jobcentre Plus and local businesses.
Your Personal Adviser can also explain financial support available through Hertfordshire County Council for education, training and apprenticeships.
Community, leisure and getting involved
Being part of your local community can help you build confidence, develop relationships and reduce isolation.
As a Stevenage resident, you can access a range of local opportunities, including:
- Leisure and recreational activities
- Community activities and groups
- Volunteering
- Cultural and creative activities
- Sport and physical activity
- Local events and activities
- Opportunities to have your say about local services.
You can find information about local activities, community facilities and opportunities through our Website.
You can find local opportunities to get involved in sport, leisure, culture, wellbeing and community activities through Leisure, Culture and Wellbeing.
Health and wellbeing
Looking after your physical and mental health is an important part of becoming independent.
Your Personal Adviser or other support worker can help you access:
- Physical health services
- Mental health and emotional wellbeing support
- GP and other health services
- Healthy lifestyle support
- Sexual health services
- Support with alcohol or drug use
- Support if you are feeling isolated or need someone to talk to.
Stevenage Borough Council’s No More Service supports people affected by drug and alcohol use, helping them to make positive changes and improve their health and wellbeing.
Relationships and support networks
Having trusted people around you can make a significant difference as you move into adulthood. We recognise the importance of helping care leavers to:
- Maintain positive relationships with family, friends and former carers
- Build trusted support networks
- Develop healthy relationships
- Reduce isolation
- Access local groups and activities
- Maintain a sense of belonging in their community.
Your Personal Adviser can help you identify people and services that can provide ongoing support.
If you are experiencing difficulties in a relationship or are affected by domestic abuse, SADA (Survivors Against Domestic Abuse) provides support and advice to help you stay safe and make positive changes.
Your voice and having your say
Your views and experiences matter.
Stevenage Borough Council is committed to listening to care leavers and considering their experiences when developing and reviewing our services.
You can give feedback through Have Your Say or directly to the services supporting you.
If you have an experience of a council service that you think could be improved, we want to hear about it.
If you live outside Stevenage
You may choose to live, study or work outside Stevenage or Hertfordshire.
Your Personal Adviser can help you understand what support remains available to you and connect you with services in the area where you live.
If you are a care leaver living in Stevenage but supported by another local authority, you can still access relevant local services provided by Stevenage Borough Council.
Our commitment as a corporate parent
Stevenage Borough Council is a corporate parent.
This means that when we carry out our functions, we should consider how our decisions, services and policies affect care leavers
We are committed to:
- Listening to care leavers
- Helping you feel safe and supported
- Reducing barriers to accessing our services
- Supporting you to achieve your goals
- Helping you build positive and lasting relationships
- Working with Hertfordshire County Council and other partners
- Considering the needs of care leavers when developing and reviewing our services.
We will use feedback from care leavers, our services and partners to help improve this Local Offer.
Need help?
If you are not sure where to start, speak to your Personal Adviser or contact Stevenage Borough Council Customer Services:
Customer Services
01438 242242
Contact us