Young care leavers to get £2,000 from Scottish government

Young people leaving care in Scotland are to receive a one-off payment of £2,000 from next month.

About 1,300 teenagers per year will benefit from the new Care Leaver Payment, which is designed to help support them as they move on to independent living.

The project is part of the government's efforts to deliver The Promise - a pledge made to improve the lives of care-experienced children and adults by 2030.

Young people in care on or after their 16th birthday, where this falls on or after 1 April 2026, will be entitled to the payment, with the government budgeting providing councils with £4m a year to fund the initiative.

Sarah Stow of Falkirk Champs, a group for young care-experienced people, said: "The Care Leavers Payment is one of the many small but vital things that need to happen to help Scotland keep its promise to the care community.

"These young people are ours and we need to invest in their futures – I think about this payment as the nest egg a grandparent or parent might save for their loved one."

Joseph, 13, is a care-experienced champion at Falkirk Champs who lives in kinship care with his family. He will receive the payment when he leaves care.

"I think the Care Leaver's Payment is good, and I will probably use it towards driving lessons or to give me a chance to travel," Joseph said.

"I would also like to be a chef, and it could help me buy tools and equipment that would help me in my career."

Last year, the Scottish government was told its plan to improve the care system was moving too slowly.

Audit Scotland and the Accounts Commission said there was confusion over how organisations should deliver The Promise.

Natalie Don-Innes, minister for children and young people, said: "We know that care experienced people do not necessarily have the same informal support network that other young people have during transition points in their lives, and how crucial support during their transition to adulthood can be.

"Through close-working with young people we have designed a payment that will help young people leaving care with additional financial security during this important period."