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Statutory guidance

The local offer for care leavers

Guidance for local authorities on the local offer for care leavers aged 18 to 25.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Education
Published:
26 February 2018
Last updated:
13 August 2026
Show all updates

  1. Added 'Care leaver local offer: guidance for local authorities', which comes into effect on 30 September 2026.

  2. Updated the statutory guidance. We now recommend that the leaving care grant should be a minimum of £3,000. This is on page 14.

  3. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Care leaver local offer: guidance for local authorities

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Details

This guidance is for local authorities and partner organisations that contribute to services and support for care-experienced young people.

It sets out the requirements to develop or update the local offer for care leavers leaving their care and moving into adulthood.

The local offer must provide information on the support available for:

  • young people when leaving care and moving into adulthood
  • accommodation and housing support
  • those at risk of homelessness
  • financial support
  • financial literacy
  • health and wellbeing
  • relationships
  • education and training and employment
  • participation in society

The local offer duties are set out in:

Statutory guidance sets out what local authorities must do to comply with the law. You should follow the guidance unless you have a very good reason not to.

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