Birmingham City Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 25

Banding priority is: Top

Additional information / how to qualify:
On application for City Housing and upon their 18th Birthday

Care leavers get to practice independent living with taster flats

Additional information:
Through a commissioned contract

Birmingham City Council in principle will assist as a guarantor for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
Individual circumstance specific only.

Birmingham City Council in principle will assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property

Details:
Individual circumstance specific only.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: £2000

Birmingham City Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers

Birmingham City Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers

Birmingham City Council in principle will assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat

Birmingham City Council in principle will assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

Birmingham City Council in principle will assist with support with mobile phone costs for care leavers

Birmingham City Council will pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

Birmingham City Council offers work experience within the council for care leavers

Number of places per year: 7

Birmingham City Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Birmingham City Council will pay towards travel to work or training

There are ringfenced apprenticeship vacancies for care leavers at Birmingham City Council

7 apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year

Care leavers are working as apprenticeships within Birmingham City Council

Number per year: 7

Additional information about work and training:
If you would like an appointment to discuss anything related to your employment, education, or training phone or text 07825 117381 or call the duty team on 0121 464 1229.

Birmingham City Council will ensure each young person has ID documents when they leave care

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Birmingham City Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

Birmingham City Council will not in principle assist with driving theory tests

Birmingham City Council will not in principle assist with driving tests

Birmingham City Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Birmingham City Council do not offer support with free travel for care leavers

Care leavers have the opportunity to meet with their corporate parents (councillors)

Care leavers have the opportunity for mentoring with any of the senior leadership team

Additional details:
Through the Corporate Parenting Board and the Corporate Parenting and Partnership Manager

Birmingham City Council has a children in care and care leavers council

Details of council:
Did you know that In Birmingham we have a Children in Care Council and a Care Leavers Forum?
Both groups meet regularly and their role is to improve children and young people in care as well as care leaver’s experiences.

The Rights and Participation Service support the following BCT participation groups – Junior CICC (age 8-12), statutory CICC (12-18), Additional needs CICC (12+), Care Leavers forum (18-25), Young Parents Project (CIC & Care Leavers as parents).
Groups meet via Microsoft Teams every 3-4 weeks during Covid restrictions. Membership and attendance is fluid, in total averaging 60+ across the groups.

Children in care and care leavers council does not have its own bank account

Children in care and care leavers council does not have its own constitution

Details:
Participation groups do not have a written constitution but decide their own agendas, campaigns and work.

Birmingham City Council has peer mentors (other care leavers)

Birmingham City Council has other mentoring schemes

Details:
Organized and provided through the Corporate Parenting and Partnership Manager

Young people have to go through the complaints dept to access their care files

Young people who access their care files get emotional support before, during and after disclosure

Details:
They can go through their Personal Advisor to access their files and for emotional support.