Your money

We will help you set up a bank account and support you to manage your money.

We will help you get identity documents, such as your passport and driving licence. 

We can pay for your TV licence for one year. Or, if you prefer, we can pay for a year's subscription to your choice of streaming service. 

We will cover the cost of up to 6 driving lessons, which is equivalent to about £250.

If you want to learn to ride a motorbike instead, we can offer an equivalent amount. This will cover the Compulsory Basic Training costs and some lessons.

We will also cover the cost of your provisional driving licence and pay for your theory and practical driving test. 

If you are living in semi-independent accommodation, when you turn 18, we will give you a one-off clothing payment of £250. This is to help you buy clothes as you transition into adulthood and prepare for independent living.

On top of that, on your 18th and 21st birthdays, we'll give you £50 so that you can treat yourself or invest in something important.

We'll make sure you have access to your trust fund or junior ISA. We'll work with you to help you use the funds in the best way for you. 

We will contribute towards transport costs, once a month, to help you keep in contact with people that are important to you.

If you need help to secure the right to remain in the UK, we can contribute £1,500 to help you with immigration expenses.

For example, to help secure your British citizenship that you can apply for a year after securing indefinite leave to remain. 

We will give you advice about:

• maintaining a tenancy and avoiding rent arrears
• paying bills and budgeting by using budgeting sheets and teaching you about direct debits
• helping you to claim housing benefit or Universal Credit, whichever is most relevant to your housing situation

All care leavers living in Bracknell are exempt from paying Council Tax.

The Leaving Care Service will make sure that Revenue Services are aware but you will need to create a Council Tax account.

After that, you will receive a Council Tax bill with a zero balance to pay.

Bracknell care leavers living outside of Bracknell will have their Council Tax refunded. To arrange this, you must pay your Council Tax and then either:

• let your personal advisor know you have paid
• email: leaving-care.service@bracknell-forest.gov.uk to let the Leaving Care Service know you have paid