Care Experienced Young People Living Outside Stoke-on-Trent

We know that not everyone chooses to live in Stoke-on-Trent when they leave care. Wherever you live, you will still receive support from the Next Steps Leaving Care Service and continue to have access to many of the services and opportunities available through our Local Offer.

Moving away does not mean losing your connection with us. We will stay in touch and continue to support you as you move forward into adulthood.

Your Personal Adviser Will Stay Involved

If you live outside Stoke-on-Trent, you will still have a Personal Adviser (PA) who will keep in regular contact with you and visit you in person.

Your PA can help you with:

Finding and maintaining suitable accommodation.
Education, training and employment.
Finances and budgeting.
Benefits and grants.
Physical and emotional wellbeing.
Accessing support services where you live.
Building your independence and achieving your goals.

Support You Can Still Access

Many of the benefits and entitlements within our Local Offer remain available wherever you live, including:

Support from your PA and the Next Steps Service.
Council Tax exemption up to age 25.
Your Leaving Care Grant.
Education, employment and training support.
Advice about benefits and finances.
Health and wellbeing support.
Help to reconnect with family members and other important people in your life where appropriate.
Opportunities to get involved in participation and engagement activities.
Provide free internet up to the age of 21 - Stoke Care Leavers | Freedom Fibre
Provide free travel pass up to the age of 21

Help With Travel

We do not want distance to stop you from staying connected.

If you live outside Stoke-on-Trent, we can support you with travel costs so that you can attend:

Care Experienced Council meetings.
Participation and engagement events.
Celebration events.
Training opportunities.
Consultation activities where young people's views are being sought.

Your PA will discuss the most appropriate travel arrangements with you and make sure that distance is not a barrier to having your voice heard.

Staying Involved and Having Your Say

Your views matter, wherever you live.

We want all care-experienced young people to have opportunities to influence services and help shape the support we provide.

If you are unable to attend events in person, our Participation Worker will work with you to find other ways for you to get involved, such as online meetings, surveys, consultations and one-to-one discussions.

Support in Your Local Area

We will help you access services close to where you live.

For example, if you would like to attend a gym, take part in a hobby, join a local group or access support within your community, we will work with you to find suitable opportunities in your area.

Where appropriate, we may fund equivalent opportunities locally so that you can continue to benefit from the support available through our Local Offer.

Housing Support Wherever You Live

Our Specialist Housing Officers will continue to work alongside your PA to help you access and maintain safe and suitable accommodation.

They can work with:

Local housing departments.
Landlords.
Housing associations.
Supported accommodation providers.
Other local authorities.

This helps ensure that you have the right housing support wherever you choose to live.

Accessing the Local Offer if You Are Supported by Another Local Authority

If you live in Stoke-on-Trent but another local authority is responsible for your leaving care support, we want you to know that you are still welcome to access many of the opportunities, activities and services available through Stoke-on-Trent's Local Offer.

We believe that all care-experienced young people should feel connected, included and part of their local community, regardless of which local authority supports them.

What You Can Access

Where possible, you can access the same community opportunities and experiences available to Stoke-on-Trent care leavers, including:

Care Experienced Council meetings.
Community events.
Information, advice and guidance.
Local activities and opportunities.
Services that help you feel connected to your community.
Opportunities to share your views and influence services.

Some Services Are Only Available to Stoke-on-Trent Care Leavers

There are a small number of services that are funded specifically for young people who are supported by Stoke-on-Trent City Council as their corporate parent. This means they cannot usually be accessed by young people supported by another local authority.

These include:

Support from Stoke-on-Trent's Virtual School.
Our Specialist Careers Adviser.
Our Specialist Housing Officers.
Financial support, grants and allowances available through this Local Offer.

This is because these services are funded by Stoke-on-Trent City Council to support the care-experienced young people for whom we have corporate parenting responsibilities.

We Can Help You Find Similar Support

If you would like information about services and opportunities available in Stoke-on-Trent, please contact the Next Steps Leaving Care Service on 01782 233575.