Kent County Council is to review the sums of money it gives to young people leaving either foster or residential care.

Care leavers are given a range of benefits when they reach adulthood, including £2,000 to buy essential items for a new home, financial support to cover a deposit for accommodation and other fees, bursaries for education, and an annual £120 clothing allowance.

Cllr Lauren Sullivan (Lab) used a discussion of a report on care benefits at Kent County Council on Thursday (November 29) to suggest the clothing allowance, in particular, would not be enough to cover all essential items.

She said: “The idea we offer £120 a year for clothes – I mean, I don’t know how much that would buy.

"Maybe that should be looked at because that won’t even cover boots and a coat for the winter.”

Paul Startup, KCC’s head of the care leavers’ service, confirmed a review of the financial support offered to care leavers is underway and would be presented to councillors in due course.

He said “certain figures” are “fairly standard”, but would discuss with care leavers if any of the allowances should be raised or improved.

He added: “There are certain figures within this report that are fairly standard in terms of the benefits rates, but we are reviewing that in terms of some of those specific areas.

“What the local offer does is give those broad objectives, and then there’s a further sort of detail which we’re developing and some of that.

“We’re working again in consultation with young people in terms of financial amounts and what is reasonable, and some further guidance and support as to how that money is spent.”