Listening to you
Hi everyone,
We’ve been listening to what our care leavers have been telling us about how we can make our Local Offer better, and we’re really pleased to share some new updates that we hope will make a big difference.
New Local Offer Entitlements – January 2026
Council Tax Exemption (up to age 25)
From January 2026, care leavers will now get council tax exemption even if you live outside Stoke-on-Trent, up to the age of 25.
If you live with a partner and you’re both responsible for paying council tax, you can now get 50% off your council tax bill.
If you think this applies to you, please contact your Personal Advisor (PA) so they can help you get it sorted.
Free Internet for Care Leavers (18–21)
We’re also working with internet providers to make sure all care leavers aged 18–21 can have free internet access.
We’re finalising the details now, and we’ll update the Local Offer as soon as everything is ready to go.
Free Bus Travel (18–21)
We know how important transport is for getting to college, work, appointments, and seeing the people who matter to you.
We’re currently working on offering free bus passes for care leavers aged 18–21. More information will be added to the Local Offer very soon.
Please keep checking the Local Offer for updates — we’re excited about these changes and hope they make things a bit easier for you.
If you need help or want to know more, your PA is always there to support you.
We want to make sure, in the same way that any good parent would do for their child, that children and young people are provided with every opportunity to lead fulfilling lives. We need to know what we do well and what we need to do better. You are best placed to help us to do this as you have experienced our care and ongoing help and support. We have developed a number of ways that you can share your views with us
Key information on this page includes:
- Comments, compliments and complaints
- Accessing your records
- Care leavers forum (Young People in Care Council)
Accessing your records
You have a right to access your records. We fully understand that, as an adult, you may have questions as to why you were in our care and about your time in our care. This is natural. We will support you if you want to see your records. Ask your social worker or PA and they will support you .
We have our bi-monthly newsletter and dedicated facebook page called the Next Steps Leaving Care Team. Speak to your PA if you are uncertain how to access face page.
You have the right to be involved in all decisions about you when you leave care. We will make sure that you can let us know what you think of and how you feel about the services you receive.
We will ask you individually how you feel about the services you are receiving or this might be by a questionnaire, consultation or event. It’s important you are able to participate so that you can help to shape the service and suggest changes
You have the right to an advocate at any time including if you want to challenge decisions about the care and support you are provided with by the local authority, your PA will help you to access the advocacy service.
Care Leavers forum (Young People in Care Council)
A place to come together with other care leavers and discuss issues that affect you and contribute to improving the service you have received. The forum will be promoted to you by your PA and you will be encouraged to participate or make a contribution in a way that suits you.
Turning 21 is a huge milestone and a time when many care leavers decide they no longer need the support from their leaving care team. You may feel that you need the support less as your independence skills grow from strength to strength. But please don’t forget, you can return back to the service any time until the age of 25. Remember help is always at hand and there are times when help is needed so please contact us as we are always here for you.
If you do decide that you know longer want support after your 21st birthday, we would still like to keep in touch just so you know that we are here if you need us. We would like to do this through an email or letter so please let us know if your contact details change even if you no longer have a Personal Adviser.
Comments, compliments, and complaints
You have a right to raise concerns, complaints, and compliments about your experience of our care and the services we offer you.