YOUNG care leavers in Mid Devon will benefit from more financial support after Mid Devon District Council voted in a policy to award a new discount.

The changes have been brought in by the Council, working in partnership with Devon County Council, to support care leavers, who already face challenges when they leave care and learn to budget their finances independently and move into their own accommodation.

Under the new policy care leavers, under 25 years-old, will not have to pay any council tax if they are the sole occupant of a property, or where all adults in the property are care leavers.

If a young carer lives with another adult in the property, who is not a care leaver, they will have a 25 per cent reduction in council tax bill where there are two adults.

Cllr James Buczkowski, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “As care leavers move into independent accommodation and begin to manage their own budget, it can be a challenging time, exacerbated if they fall behind with council tax payments.

"We hope providing this financial support, at a point in their lives when they may be particularly financially vulnerable, will provide them with some help as they develop independent life skills.”

The change comes into effect from October 1, 2023 but any care leaver who meets the criteria will have their reduction applied from April 1, 2023.