Here are some ways our leaving care team and your personal adviser can help you with your home.
Housing register
To arrange new housing through social housing, you will need to speak with a housing department. We will help you with this.
You can join a housing register in any area that you want to as a care leaver. We can help you to do this. We can also help you to challenge the decision if your application is declined.
We can also help you to look for privately rented accommodation.
At 16, it is important that you register for housing and log into your account every year. You will get email reminders to do this.
Your housing priority as a care leaver
If you are a care leaver and Bracknell Forest Council still supports you, you can join the housing register, even if you currently live outside Bracknell Forest.
If you are living in a Staying Put arrangement, you will usually be placed in Band C on the housing register. Your waiting time will normally be counted from your 18th birthday.
If you are ready to move into your own accommodation from Look Ahead and have been assessed as ready for independent living, you may be placed in Band B through the positive move on process. This gives you a higher priority for social housing.
Other care leavers are placed in Band D.
Your personal adviser will work with you to explore all your housing options. They will help you to apply for housing when the time is right.
Please remember that social housing is in very high demand. Being on the housing register does not guarantee that a home will be available.
Getting accommodation
When you are 16, you will get a named personal advisor who will work alongside you and your social worker to plan for your transition into adulthood. A team manager and your independent reviewing officer will have oversight of these plans. This is to make sure that you are being included in discussions about what your housing and accommodation needs will be when you turn 18.
Private renting: We can help with a deposit for your first tenancy and the first month's rent if needed.
Social housing: If there is a break in benefits during your move, we will support you with 2 weeks' rent to bridge the gap. We will also cover the deposit if a deposit is needed.
If you're not ready or don't want your own tenancy, we can help. We can help find you other housing options, like supported accommodation or a room in a shared house.
Setting up home grant
If you are a former relevant young person, we will give you a setting up home grant of £3,000 to help you get settled into your new space. This allowance increased in 2023 - those turning 18 before 1 April 2023 will have received £1,500.
We won't transfer this money to you as soon as you turn 18 as this money is to be used for essentials in your long term accommodation. We will work together and your PA will guide you through researching what you need. They will help you get quotes for the best value for money items to help your grant go as far as possible.
When you are close to leaving care (or before you turn 25), if you have any money left from this allowance, we will give this to you in lump sum.
We can also help you with moving costs such as a removal van and storage for up to 3 months, if you need this.
Council Tax exemption
In Bracknell Forest, care leavers up to the age of 25 do not have to pay Council Tax. Your personal advisor can help you to email Revenue Services to confirm your exemption.
If you live outside of the borough, don’t worry. You are eligible for a Council Tax refund up to the age of 25. Please send us a copy of your payments and we can reimburse you.
Housing, accommodation and homelessness support
If you find yourself without housing or need urgent help, we can help with emergency living costs. This support may include staying short term in a hotel or bed and breakfast while we find other ways to resolve the crisis.
If you think there might be challenges with your living arrangements, we will put you in touch with our Care Leaver Housing Options Officer. They can make sure you are supported to find out what options are available to you.
If you need to store your belongings during a crisis, we can offer storage for up to 3 months.
This crisis support is to make sure you have a safe place to stay while we look for longer term housing solutions.
Staying put with your former foster carer
If this is what you and your foster carer wants, we will support you to remain with your foster carer under what is called a ‘staying put’ arrangement. This can last until you are 21.
There will be meeting about this before you become 18 and all will be explained then.
You can ask your social worker or your personal adviser more about this.