When you’re leaving care, you are entitled to support from your local authority with the costs of setting up your new home – this is sometimes called the Setting Up Home Allowance or a Leaving Care Grant.
This makes sure you can get all the things you need (like furniture, kitchen goods and things for cooking and cleaning) to make your home safe, stable and secure.
On 1 April 2023, the Government announced an increase for the minimum recommended amount from £2,000 to £3,000 for all care leavers in England. This was great news for young people struggling to afford vital everyday items.
However, we’ve heard from care leavers that not all authorities have increased the grants they are awarding.
That’s why A National Voice is launching The Grand Campaign – so that all care leavers receive the full support they’re entitled to.
What we want to see improved
Fairness
Every local authority should offer at least £3,000 Setting Up Home Allowance – no exceptions.
Clear guidelines
No more confusion! Everyone should have a clear, written document outlining exactly what they are entitled to. The document should be easy to find and easy to understand, so care leavers know their rights and can speak up if they don’t get what they have a right to.
Freedom to choose
Care leavers should have more control over how they spend their money.
£3,000 for all care leavers
ANV want every care leaver, up to age 25, to get the full £3,000 to help set up their home.
Enough support
The allowance should cover everything young people need to start out in their own home.
Regular reviews
The Setting Up Home Allowance must be looked at least every year to make sure it keeps up with rising costs.
We wanted to get a full picture of what level of grants care leavers are receiving across England. So in 2024 we
- sent a Freedom of Information request to every local authority in England, so that they have to tell us what grants they are offering to care leavers
- created template letters so that children and young people in care and leaving care could set up meetings with local leaders and boards
- created opportunities for children and young people to discuss their experiences and what needs to change
- showcased the support of children and young people, local authorities and leaders
- created a report on our findings to present to local and national leaders
Read the Grand Campaign report
Read our full report, including all our findings and recommendations
The Grand Campaign