Participation in society / getting involved in your community

Celebration of achievements

• Support to be involved in and attend award events which are relevant to you such as your prom.
• Individual celebration of milestones such as gaining qualifications e.g., go out for a meal.
• Support to celebrate religious festivals.

Fun activities

• We have a brilliant offer through our Young Person's Activity Coordinator. Please come and join us in a range of activities including the cinema, going to the zoo, Harry's Game Shack, cooking lessons and even residential trips!
• Financial and practical support towards hobbies, cultural outing, etc.
• Support to be involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
• Chill out space at Stanfield Centre building/laundry facilities at Next Steps.

Support with learning to drive

• Either car or motorcycle.
• Match funding scheme (e.g., care experienced young people, pay for 5 driving lessons max number of lessons conditional on being linked to education or training).
• Cost towards theory test, practical test, and provisional driving licence. Same offered with motorcycle, up to same costs.

Volunteering Activities

• Volunteering opportunities and help to access these.
• Training offered re: interview staff, compensation for time.
• Young people can be compensated for time when taking part in consultation about TfC services.

Out of hours support

• In the evening via EDT 0191 5205560.

Care experienced forum

• Monthly Change Council meetings in the evening with the purpose of having your voice heard, making positive changes, shaping services, meeting senior managers, meeting other young people and having food together.
• National young people benchmarking forum.
• Newsletter to share what young people have been up to and to show what's been happening in the local community.
• Support to sign up to the Care Leaver Covenant 

Digital support/social media

• Access to Mind Of My Own app
• Facebook page
• We will ensure that you have access to internet in your home.
• Laptop provided to all young people who are in education.

Identity documents

• Financial support with ID documents e.g. national insurance numbers, passports, birth certificates, provisional driving licence and photos if needed.
• We will keep a copy of these documents safe for you.
• Support with British citizenship/naturalisation
• Support to open a bank account.
• Help to join electoral register.

Finance - your money

• Your Social Worker/Care Team will offer you money management/budgeting training at Next Steps, if you need more specialist advice we will support you to access this
• Benefits and finance advice via services such as the Job Centre and Pallion Action Group, who support with benefit advice.
• Information about financial support available which is updated annually.
• We will help you to make a UC claim before you turn 18.

Savings

• Help to access your Junior ISA
• Help to open a bank account.
• Help to set up a 'basic account' if young people are not able to open a debit account.

Support during financial crisis

• If your benefits are sanctioned, we will explore how we can support you. This may include a support such as a food parcel, utilities payment or sign posting to another service who can provide this.
• We will also try to work with the Job Centre where appropriate to prevent sanctioning/resolve a sanctioning.
• Support while applying for benefits and waiting for these to be in place (up to 5 weeks).

Personal allowance

• Birthday money
• Festival/Christmas money
• Christmas hamper/gift
• Clothing allowance

Groups and youth projects you can join

• You will be supported to join/attend any groups that you may be interested in that are within your local area.
• Cared for young people who are parents.
• We will signpost you to appropriate services including Early Help for support.
• We will work with your child's care team, if they have one.
• One to one parenting support focused on the areas you want to develop.
• Signposting to services such as the Family Nurse Practitioner and dad's groups

LGBTQ+ young people 

• We will listen to you when you tell us about your identity and sexuality.
• We will respect the pronouns that you use and use these as you want us to.
• We will support you to access groups such as Cozmic 3piphany (Cozmic 3piphany is a group for young people aged 11 to 18, or up to age 25 for care experienced young people or those with a special educational need or disability, who identify as LGBTQ+ or are questioning their sexuality and/or gender identity) if this is something you want.

Unaccompanied asylum-Seeking Young People

• Specialised Immunisation program.
• UASC pathway tailored to your needs.
• Support to access Refugee council and legal representation.
• Emotional support from UASC leads who understand the challenges faced by unaccompanied young people.
• Support via referral for therapeutic services for Separated Children, via the Refugee Council.

Cared for young people in custody

• We will top up your weekly income to £10 if you are in education/work.
• We will work with your support worker where you live to make sure you have access to advocacy and that your status is known so you have the right support. 
• We will help you remain connected to the people who are important to you.
• If you will be under 18 when you finish your sentence, we will find somewhere for you to live.

Cared for young people who have a disability

• We will listen to you when you tell us what helps you manage best so your plan reflects your individual experience. We will support you to lead discussion on your needs wherever possible. 
• Referral for specialist services such as Adult Social Care to make sure you have the support you need.
• We have a Transitions Lead who attends monthly meetings to support young people having a positive experience of transition from children's services to adult services.