The Care Leaver's Council was formed in January 2022. We are made up of care leavers aged 18 to 25 years. We are here to help you, care leavers, create change for the better.
We meet up regularly to discuss any problems faced by care leavers and take those problems and ideas to discuss with managers in the council. We try and get things changed for the better.
Issues we have put forward
Discount for Council Tax
What we said
Council tax is expensive. If you are over 21 or live out of Bracknell you have to pay it. With rising costs and many of us struggling to pay it, we asked senior managers for help with a discount.
What they did
They agreed with us! The good news is that from November 2022, if you currently pay council tax, you will be reimbursed for this if you are aged 18 to 25. This will be reviewed in March 2023. Speak to your personal advisor to find out how you will be reimbursed or get in touch with the Leaving Care Service.
Help with the cost of living
What we said
We need help with rising cost of bills like fuel and council tax as many care leavers are struggling. We told managers in our first meeting that having an extra £30 to £40 a month would help with the rising costs of bills.
What they did
The Assistant Director of Children's Social Care, Sonia Johnson, agreed that a one-off, one-time payment of £100 will be given to care leavers who live independently and pay their own bills. This will provide support in the short-term while a long-term solution is looked into.
Respecting your privacy
What we said
Some questions on the housing vulnerabilities questionnaire were too personal and invasive for some care leavers and had caused some upset.
What they did
The Head of Service for Housing attended our meeting to hear our views. He spoke to the team, and they agreed they are no longer going to use the housing vulnerability questionnaire with care leavers. Therefore, no more invasive questions will be asked when having housing meetings.
How to get involved
Through the Care Leaver's Council
We are always looking for new people to get involved. If you want to be part of a group who are enthusiastic about creating change, and you are willing to spare some time and share your ideas then get in touch. If you can’t come to meetings, we can tell you about other ways to get involved.
Through social activities
You can also get involved through our regular social activities where you'll meet us and other care leavers too. These include our monthly “Meet and Eat” sessions where we either go out for a meal or cook dinner at the youth centre. We’ve been go karting, to Windsor Illuminated and we’ll be planning more trips for this year. These are a great chance to meet other young people and catch up with your personal advisor as well. When we meet, you can chat to us about any ideas or issues you want us to put forward on your behalf.
Get in touch
If you would like to get involved with the Care Leaver's Council or with our social activities, get in touch by emailing clc.team@bracknellcareleaverscouncil.com