Independent Living Fund for Care Leavers

The Independent Living Fund offers grants of up to £500 for care leavers aged 18-25 in Norfolk to access essential items and services needed to live independently. The Fund supports the purchase of white goods, flooring, laptops/tablets, furniture, utensils, suitcases and other essential household items. It also covers driving lessons, courses in money management or other essential life skills, access to accredited counselling or other talking therapies, and minor household or vehicle repairs. Applications are made through social workers, personal advisors, or Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations supporting the care leaver, and decisions are made by panels that include care-experienced young people. The Fund operates through four annual funding rounds with fixed deadlines and aims to support young people transitioning to independent living after being in care.