Support has been boosted for young people leaving care in Stoke-on-Trent – but concerns have been raised over its funding.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has expanded the services it provides for care leavers up to the age of 25, which now include the provision of bus passes and increased access to council tax exemption.

There are also plans to provide broadband internet to care leaver to improve digital inclusion. The children and family services scrutiny committee was given an update on the improved offer for care leavers, following a cabinet decision last year.

While committee members welcomed the expanded offer, some concerns were raised over how it will be funded.

All councils are required to publish a local offer to care leavers, explaining what support they can expect to receive up to the age of 25.

Last November, cabinet members approved plans to expand the offer, having previously agreed to make care leaver status a 'locally protected characteristic', meaning care leavers have to be taken into account before any change of policy.

Stoke-on-Trent has more than 1,000 children in care, far more than most other areas, and consequently, more care leavers.

Anthony Wild, director of corporate parenting, told the committee that much of the enhanced offer is now in place.

advertisement

He said: "One of the things we requested was additional council tax support for care leavers who live outside of the city. That was agreed and is in place. So care leavers who live in other parts of the country get support with their council tax, the same as if they were living in the city.

"The public transport offer is now live and flexible, with daily, monthly or annual bus passes available depending on their need. Most young people access it through an app, but there are also paper copies."

Mr Wild added that the broadband scheme would be launched in the 'next few months'.

The council was originally set to allocate £360,000 for the enhanced care leavers offer in 2026/27, but this was reduced to £200,000 with the assumption that remaining costs would be met through external grants, sponsorship or fund-raising.

In 2025/26, the service overspent its budget by £206,000, and £147,000 was allocated from the Household Support Fund to reduce this deficit.

According to a council report will be a 'potential budget pressure' in 2026/27, driven primarily by the increase in the number of care leavers.

The Household Support Fund, which has now been replaced by the Crisis Resilience Fund, was a national scheme aimed at helping cash-strapped families pay for essentials such as food and energy.

Committee member Abi Brown called on the cabinet to allocate more funding to the care leaver offer so money will not need to be diverted from other areas.

advertisement

Cllr Brown said: "In effect, we're drawing money from one group of vulnerable people and using it to support another group of vulnerable people.

"Will we have to turn people away from the household support grant because we've put money into care leavers. I'd like to see the council commit to support this without that choice having to be made."

Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for children's services, defended the council's approach.

She said: "Personally I can't see it as taking away from one or the other. They're still vulnerable people in our city. But there is going to be quite a different outlook on how the crisis resilience fund is delivered in the city."

The council is also looking to recruit a new partnership and fundraising officer to support the care leavers offer.

As well as increasing coordination with the voluntary sector, the aim will also be to unlock external grant funding.