Care leavers will be boosted by a new £1,000 bursary payment if they choose to do an apprenticeship from August 2018, the Government has announced today (17 May).

The extra financial support will be for those aged 16-24 and help them in the first year of their apprenticeship as learners transition into the workplace for their practical studies.

This change is one of a small number of improvements – including increasing the number of apprenticeship funding bands – which will come into effect from August 2018.

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Anne Milton said:

We know those leaving care can experience additional barriers to getting an apprenticeship.

Everyone should get a chance to be able to start an apprenticeship and change their life, so I’m really pleased that as we see how we can make the apprenticeship system work better we are able to offer this extra support for those leaving care.