One-off payment to reduce financial barriers
A one-off payment of £2,000 will help every young person leaving care or continuing care from next month as they move towards adulthood.
The payment will benefit around 1,300 young people who leave care every year in Scotland. It was co-designed with input from young people with care experience to help support them as they move on from care and into adulthood and independent living, with some suggesting during consultation that it could help them with driving lessons or a new laptop to assist with studies.
The Care Leaver Payment forms part of the Scottish Government’s work to Keep ‘the Promise’ to Scotland’s care experienced young people by 2030.
The Scottish Government is fully funding the payment, and has worked in partnership with COSLA to ensure it will be delivered automatically to young people as they leave care by local authorities.
Natalie Don-Innes, Minister for The Promise, met young people with care experience who stand to receive the payment at Falkirk Champs, a group led by care experienced young people working to drive positive change for their peers.
Ms Don-Innes said: “We know that care experienced people do not necessarily have the same informal support network that other young people have during transition points in their lives, and how crucial support during their transition to adulthood can be.
“Through close-working with young people we have designed a payment that will help young people leaving care with additional financial security during this important period.
“This is yet another strand of our work to keep the Promise, alongside wider work including the transformative supports now underpinned by the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) Bill recently passed by Parliament.”
Joseph, 13, is a care-experienced champion at Falkirk Champs who lives in kinship care with his family. He will receive the payment when he leaves care. Joseph said:
“I think the Care Leaver’s Payment is good, and I will probably use it towards driving lessons or to give me a chance to travel. I would also like to be a chef, and it could help me buy tools and equipment that would help me in my career.”
Sarah Stow, Champions Board Coordinator at Falkirk Champs, said: “The Care leavers payment is one of the many small but vital things that need to happen to help Scotland keep its promise to the Care Community.
“These young people are ours and we need to invest in their futures – I think about this payment as the nest egg a grandparent or parent might save for their loved one.
“A wee step up for our children at a time when they are ready to move forward.”