Financial Assistance for Care Leavers Aged 18-25 - Find a freedom of information request

We would like information on the extent to which your local authority provides care leavers over 18 years in your area with help with the financial costs of local bus travel.

For the purposes of this Freedom of Information request we are using the definition of 'care leaver' contained in The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000. This means we are defining them as young people aged 16-25 who were in the care of the local authority for a period of 13 weeks or longer (or periods amounting to 13 weeks) from the age of 14 and were in care on or after their 16th birthday.

1. Does your local authority provide care leavers aged 18-25 with any financial assistance with the costs of local bus travel?

2. If yes can you provide the following information about your policy on providing care leavers with assistance for local bus travel?

a. Is help provided to all care leavers or is there qualifying criteria to receive financial assistance for bus travel? If there is qualifying criteria, please provide information on what the qualifying criteria are.

b. Does the financial assistance allow care leavers to use buses for free or at a discounted rate on the usual adult price? If a discounted rate is offered, what percentage discount is available?

c. Does the financial assistance provided apply to all bus services or is it limited to those provided at a particular time of day or on particular routes? If it is limited please provide details of which services the financial assistance is applicable to.

d. Please provide a copy of any written policy you have outlining your policy on providing care leavers with financial assistance with local bus travel.

1. Some travel costs are met on an individual basis; for example the Lincolnshire Leaving Care Service (LLCS) will support when a young person is undertaking a work experience placement. However, LLCS do not provide financial assistance across the service for local bus travel. LLCS will consider requests to assist with travel on an individual basis.

2. Not Applicable, see question 1.

a. Requests are considered on an individual basis.

b. Not Applicable, see question 2a.

c. Not Applicable – no specific offers with specific companies.

d. Lincolnshire Leaving Care Service doesn’t have a written policy about offering assistance to Care Leavers on Local Buses.