What kind of care leaver am I?

Check what help you can get

Being a care leaver and what that means for you

If you’re aged 18–25 and spent at least 13 weeks in care, you might be classed as a care leaver. That means you could get support from Wokingham Borough Council’s Care Leaving Service.

The 13 weeks could be:

One long stay in care, or
A few shorter stays that add up to 13 weeks

Why does your “category” matter?

You might hear different labels used to describe care leavers. These are official legal terms.

They might sound confusing or not feel very personal, but they’re important because they decide what support you can get.

The main categories

You’ll usually fall into one of these:

Former Relevant Care Leaver

You’re likely in this group if:

You’re 18 or over
You were in care as a teenager (especially at 16 or 17)
You were in care for at least 13 weeks after age 14 (including some time after 16)
You left care around your 18th birthday

What this means for you:

You can get the full financial support package
You’ll have your own Personal Advisor (PA) to support you

Qualifying Care Leaver

You might be in this group if:

You’re aged 16–25
You were in care, but for a shorter time
You left care after 16, but either:
- You were in care for less than 13 weeks after 14, or
- You weren’t in care after age 16

What this means for you:

You can still get advice, help, and guidance
You can get support with education, training, or work
You won’t usually have a allocated Personal Advisor, but:
- You can get one during tough times
- You can request one if you want help accessing your records
You won’t get the full financial package, but you’ll be helped to find other support services

Important to know

Even if you don’t have a full-time Personal Advisor or a plan in place, you can still reach out anytime and support will be there when you need it.

Not sure where you fit?

That’s completely okay, lots of people aren’t sure at first.

You can:

Talk to your social worker, Personal Advisor (PA), or the Here4U team
Use the simple online tool on the Coram Voice website
Contact the Here4U team directly for help

Remember: The labels might feel confusing, but they’re just legal terms used to work out what support you can get and there are people ready to help you understand it.

Personal Advisor (PA)

A Personal Advisor (PA) is someone who helps and support care leavers to develop a Pathway Plan as they move into adulthood.

Other situations where you can get support

You might still be able to get support, even if your situation has been a bit different from what’s listed above. There is help available for lots of different experiences.

This could include if:

You lived (or still live) with family or friends under something called a Special Guardianship Order
You were adopted but later came back into care for 13 weeks or more
You were looked after by Wokingham Borough Council for 13 weeks before you turned 18, including if you came to the UK on your own as a child seeking safety (sometimes referred to as unaccompanied asylum seeking child)

If any of this sounds like your experience, it is worth talking to someone. Support could still be available to you.