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UK Wedding News

04/12/2013

Foster Children To Stay With Families Until 21

The UK government has said children in care will be able to remain with their foster families until they reach the age of 21.

This is opposed to having to leave the home once they turn 18.

In a statement released today (4 December), the Department of Education said it is imposing a legal duty on councils to provide financial support for those who want to stay with their foster family for longer. The government has earmarked £40m over the next three years to fund the plan. It is understood it will be introduced during the third reading of the Children and Families Bill in 2014.

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Commenting on the plans, Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson, whose own family fostered almost 90 children, said: "I know from the many foster children I grew up with how crucial it is for them to be given sufficient time to prepare for life after care.

"A growing number of local authorities already offer young people the choice to stay but with little financial support it can be challenging for their foster families. Now all councils will have to follow their example, and we are giving them £40 million towards the cost.

"This is a further reform to our much wider package of support for care leavers including changes to the rules so 16- and 17-year-olds remain in care until they are ready to move out and much greater financial support for young people leaving care at 18.

"This will allow the 10,000 young people leaving stable and secure homes to make the transition from care to independence when they are ready, rather than when their council tells them to."

(JP/IT)

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"The UK government has said children in care will be able to remain with their foster families until they reach the age of 21."