Peterborough City Council

Care leavers receive priority for social housing

Priority is offered up to the age of: 21 Years, based on assessment post 21 years

Banding priority is: Band A

Additional information / how to qualify:
Care Leavers will be supported in registering for housing and will be notified by the housing authority of their eligibility status, including when care leaver banding is applied.

Care leavers do not get to practice independent living with taster flats

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

Details:
For more information, contact the assigned Personal Advisor or the Leaving Care Team.

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

Details:
We may be able to support with the deposit and first month’s rent for a young person’s first independent home. This is subject to an affordability assessment, which helps ensure the housing option is financially sustainable - taking into account rent, bills, and day-to-day living costs. The goal is to make sure the move is not only achievable but also manageable in the long term.

If this particular option isn’t suitable, we’ll provide tailored advice and support to explore alternatives. Our priority is to ensure every young person feels confident, secure, and supported in their home.

Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance

Allowance amount: ££3,000

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

Peterborough City Council will not in principle assist with support to pay at least the first year home contents insurance for care leavers

Peterborough City Council will not in principle assist with support to pay for redecoration costs of a care leavers first flat

Peterborough City Council will not in principle assist with support with broadband costs for care leavers

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

Peterborough City Council will not pay towards cooking equipment for care leavers

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

We are unable to confirm how many places per year

Peterborough City Council will pay for work/interview clothes

Peterborough City Council will pay towards travel to work or training

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

We currently have four apprenticeship roles for our care leavers, all of which have been successfully filled. Work is ongoing to expand these opportunities both within the council and through partnerships with external organisations. apprenticeship vacancies are ringfenced a year

There are no care leavers working as apprenticeships within Peterborough City Council

Additional information about work and training:
We have specially trained staff who provide one-to-one, personalised advice and guidance to support you with every aspect of education, employment, and training (EET). Whether you're exploring your options, building a CV, preparing for interviews, managing finances, aiming for higher education, or re-engaging with learning - we are here to help.

Care leavers can access support with:
• Identifying the right EET pathway
• Writing CVs and preparing for interviews
• Understanding how choices may impact finances
• Accessing higher education or returning to learning
• Exploring long-term career goals and aspirations

We also offer a mentoring scheme, where care leavers can be matched with a council professional for tailored support and guidance aligned with their goals.

All care leavers have free access to Xello, an interactive platform that helps:
• Discover personal strengths, skills, and learning styles
• Build a personalised digital portfolio
• Explore career options, including routes in, next steps, and earning potential

In addition, care leavers can access free virtual work experience through Springpod, offering valuable insight into different industries and career paths. To support your journey, we offer up to £750 in funding for training, courses, and related resources that lead to an accredited qualification. We also contribute toward the cost of driving lessons if it aligns with their goals - driving can be a key step toward employment and independence.

To access any of this support, care leavers should speak with their assigned Personal Adviser or contact the Leaving Care Team.

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

Passport: Yes

Provisional Driving Licence: Yes

Birth Certificate: Yes

Peterborough City Council in principle will assist with driving lessons

Peterborough City Council in principle will assist with driving theory tests

Peterborough City Council in principle will assist with driving tests

Peterborough City Council will not in principle assist with CBT tests

Partners local to Peterborough 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

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

Details of council:
We have a Children in Care Council & our Care Leaver Forum called Peterborough Care Leaders (PCL).

For more information, please contact: [email protected]

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

Peterborough City Council does not have peer mentors (other care leavers)

Peterborough City Council has other mentoring schemes

Details:
Our Mentoring Scheme is an opportunity to work with professionals from Peterborough City Council to gain valuable support and advice around anything you feel you might need to support or progress your education, employment or training. If it’s a talk over a coffee, or support around applying for a job, our mentoring scheme can give you the access to valuable information and support to fulfil your potential.

Young people do not 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:
A PA would support a young person to access their files and provide them emotional support when viewing these.