Independent Living describes the skills needed to live independently e.g. cooking, housekeeping, travel, and handling money. There are a lot of things that can be done to help prepare for the future and life as an adult.
Money that's available to you Depending on your situation there may be money available to support you or your young person. Find out what money is available to you Start thinking about your money Understanding money and how to use it is a huge part of becoming independent. View our money resources
If you or your young person is eligible for adult social services support you'll be able to discuss your situation with the Money Advice Unit. They can help give advice on the best options available to you. Gov.uk also have information and advice on the different kinds of financial help available to you. Care assessments Every young person is entitled to a care assessment which gives them the opportunity to discuss their situation with a professional who can then offer advice to make the transition to adulthood easier. Young people can refer themselves for an assessment, or be referred by their family, carer or by a professional. The assessment reviews whether a young person might need extra help managing day-to-day tasks, and whether they might be able to get support from the local authority. Learn about your rights to a care assessment To request an assessment you can talk to your social worker or contact the 0-25 together service.
Helpful documents This Preparing for Adulthood Checklist (pdf 170kb) contains a list of things you might want to think about when preparing your young person for the next stage of life. The Information Pack for young people, parents and carer (pdf 287kb) has information to guide you through the different services available to support your young person as they transition to adulthood. This list of useful resources (pdf 391kb) helps you find the right place to go to find support for things such as employment, health, money and housing.