Mayor Marvin Rees’ Labour administration has this month become one of the first councils in the country to offer a full council tax exemption for care leavers up to their 25th birthday.
Proposals brought forward by Cllrs Craig Cheney and Helen Godwin will save Bristol’s care leavers more than £30,000 per year. Alongside this initiative a new social impact bond for care leavers has also been announced. Working with 16-25 Independent People and neighbouring authorities, around £2 million will be invested to support care leavers into education, employment, and training.
These latest moves build on Labour-run Bristol’s record as the only core city in the country to provide a full council tax reduction scheme for its poorest households while levying full rates on second homes and empty properties.