Money And Finance

The Pathway Team Offers

• If you are age 16 to age 18 living independently and unemployed we will pay you a weekly allowance equivalent to the Universal Credit payment. (currently £60p/w)
• ​ If you are age 16 to age 18 we will pay your accommodation rent costs if living in a placement agreed by the Pathway Team. ​
• Support you to access the children's independent savings account (ISA) set up in your name by the Department for Education (DFE). ​
• Provide or inform you about relevant money management courses or one to one support to help you budget your income and prioritise your essential outgoings. ​
• Support you to gain knowledge about different bank accounts, savings, ISA’s, loans and credit cards.
• ​Support to understand your wage slip when in employment.
• Provide a leaving care grant to help you buy essential things when moving into your own home, which the government recommends should be a minimum of £2,000.
• In York we pay £2,250 which includes the purchase of your first TV licence. ​
• Pay for the first year’s Home contents insurance when a young person moves into their own property.
• Provide a birthday present or gift voucher. ​
• Provide a gift or voucher for religious celebrations e.g. Christmas & Eid. ​
• We will support you with 10 driving lessons or to pass your CBT. ​
• Participation Work; Young People can be paid for their time when involved in consultation, recruitment interviews, designing publicity materials for CYPIC and care leaver events. ​
• Young people in custody can receive up to £20 per month in the form of a postal order for personal needs and phone credit.

Tips From Care Leavers

It’s always best to leave care in a planned and supported way, to know where you will live and how much money you will have to support yourself.

Make sure your accommodation is affordable and safe.

Keep on top of your bills! Pay the essentials first!

Have a budget plan and stick to it. ​

It’s great to save! But.... so easy to get over drawn and into debt if you don’t know enough about bank cards, credit cards or loans.

It’s a great sense of pride earning your own income.

White goods (fridge, washer, cooker) and carpets are very expensive.

Your pathway worker can support and advise you on how and where to get the best value for your money.

It’s important to set up a payment scheme to insure your possessions in the second year.

10 driving lessons are a great help in learning to drive but you may need more, so it is important to save in advance as you can often get a reduction if you book/pay for blocks of 5 or more.

If you want to be more involved in participation such as I Still Matter, find out more on the ISM page. Or just speak to a member of ISM, your social worker or pathway worker.

Your views are important and really valued. ​