Campaign to exempt care-leavers from council tax wins impact award

Denise Burke, Director of United for All Ages with The Children’s Society’s Senior Public Affairs Officer, Tom Redfearn, and Campaigns Manager, Sarah Wayman, and Anna Williamson (TV Presenter and mental health campaigner)

A charity campaign has been recognised with a national award.

The Children’s Society has been calling on councils to exempt care leavers from paying council tax, and councillors in Rochdale, where there are around 230 care leavers, agreed to implement the policy.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/108495/budget-fixing-council

So far, 49 councils in England and Wales have agreed to make the change, and the Scottish government has said it will introduce the exemption across the whole of Scotland.

The Leaving Care Award - which highlights those doing the most to help young people who are leaving care and transitioning into adulthood - was presented on Wednesday 22 November at the awards ceremony organised and hosted by Children and Young People Now magazine. The category recognised efforts that help care leavers by supporting their accommodation, health, housing, training and employment needs.

Judges looked for examples where young people have played a key role in planning their independent living. Young people, as well as professionals, judged each award.

In addition to having a high impact, the campaign was also noted for uniting staff, supporters and partners behind it.

Sam Royston, Director of Policy and Research at The Children’s Society said: “We are pleased that our work to exempt care leavers from council tax has been recognised by this award.

“It would not have been possible without the support of councils like Rochdale and the most important achievement of all will be the difference this makes to the lives of these young people.

“We hope the award leads to more awareness of our campaign and that we will see more councils pledging to support care leavers by adopting the policy.

“Care leavers have often had a difficult upbringing and may have experienced abuse, neglect or family breakdown which can have a big impact upon their life chances. Without the family support most young people get as they become adults, care leavers often struggle with making ends meet and end up having to choose between food and paying bills, or getting into debt.

“Expecting young people to pay council tax just days after leaving care is setting them up to fail. That’s why The Children’s Society is continuing to call on local authorities to exempt care leavers from paying council tax.”

The Children’s Society was also shortlisted at the event for a Partnership Working Award for its Seen and Heard training package created in partnership with the Department of Health to help professionals spot signs of child sexual exploitation.