Nottingham City Council has approved a new £300,000 Care Leaver Grant Fund to provide practical financial support and opportunities for care-experienced young people as they make the transition into adulthood.
The fund will be delivered in partnership with The King’s Trust and will operate over a two-year period from 2027 to 2029, providing targeted support for Nottingham City Council care leavers aged 18 to 25.
The funding forms part of a wider package of more than £20 million approved by Nottingham City Council for services and projects across the city, funded through a one-off underspend in the Council’s 2025/26 budget.
The new package will provide additional financial support to young care leavers, helping them manage everyday costs and access practical assistance through their Personal Adviser and the Council’s Leaving Care Service.
The investment will help young people overcome financial barriers that can prevent them from accessing education, training, employment and housing opportunities, whilst complementing the extensive support already provided through the Council’s Corporate Parenting responsibilities.
The fund will offer practical, outcome-focused support designed to improve:
- Independent living skills
- Educational achievement
- Employability and access to training
- Tenancy sustainability
- Health and wellbeing
The Council recognises that, whilst it already provides a comprehensive package of support for care leavers, many care-experienced young people continue to face significant barriers as they transition to adulthood.
Unlike many of their peers, care-experienced young people often do not have access to family networks that can provide financial assistance, career guidance, practical help or a safety net when challenges arise. The new fund aims to help bridge that gap and ensure young people have the support they need to achieve their ambitions and build independent lives.
Through the partnership with The King’s Trust, care leavers will be connected to nationally recognised programmes supporting progression into education, employment, training and entrepreneurship. Grant funding will help remove the practical and financial barriers that can often prevent young people from accessing these opportunities.
Councillor Linda Woodings, Executive Member for Children and Young People at Nottingham City Council, said: “The council has a responsibility to give our care-experienced young people the same opportunities and support that many young adults receive from their families as they move into adulthood.
“We know that too many care leavers face additional challenges when it comes to education, employment, housing and financial security. This fund is about providing practical support at critical moments, helping young people overcome barriers and make the most of opportunities available to them.
“Working with The King’s Trust will strengthen the support we offer, connecting care leavers to programmes that can help them develop skills, build confidence and move towards their goals. We want every care-experienced young person in Nottingham to know that they have our backing and that we are committed to helping them succeed.”
The approval of the Care Leaver Grant Fund reflects the Council’s ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for children in care and care-experienced young people, ensuring every young person can thrive regardless of their background or circumstances.