Blaenau Gwent by Children in Wales

Barnardos

ChildreninWales — 2026-02-09 10:28:04 UTC

Barnardos have a whole range of resources to support you in the transition to leaving care including mental health support, employment, education and training as well as financial information.

Voices from Care Cymru

ChildreninWales — 2026-02-09 10:28:10 UTC

Voices from Care Cymru are a national charity which exists to improve the lives of care experienced young people in Wales. They run a whole host of programmes from preparation for independence, influencing and/ or forums.

The Getting Ready Project

ChildreninWales — 2026-02-09 10:28:15 UTC

Visit our website which has a whole host of resources on financial management and independent living.

We also run a range of workshops on Managing tenancy, Budgeting and CV writing.

For more information email gettingready@childreninwales.org.uk

NYAS

ChildreninWales — 2026-02-09 10:28:20 UTC

The National Youth Advocacy Service | NYAS

TGP Cymru

ChildreninWales — 2026-02-09 10:28:26 UTC

For young people and families who are aslyum seekers.

Project Unity: Support for Young Mums in Wales

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Training for Young People:

ChildreninWales — 2026-02-10 08:16:19 UTC

We offer a variety of training for young people 14-26 years old which includes

Budgeting on Universal Credit
CV Writing and Interview Skills
Managing Tenancy

These free courses are available either in-person or online.

To book a free course please contact us on gettingready@childreninwales.org.uk

Training for Professionals:

ChildreninWales — 2026-02-10 08:18:03 UTC

We offer free training courses for professionals (either in-person or online) and includes topics such as:

Collaborative Conversations
Supporting young people with budgeting
Further education entitlements overview
Benefits and entitlements overview

To book this free course, please contact us on gettingready@childreninwales.org.uk

Leaving Care

ChildreninWales — 2026-02-16 10:55:51 UTC

Information for young people who are either in care thinking about leaving care, or who have recently left care.

Helping Young People with Budgeting

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Basic Income Pilot

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Young Person Guarantee

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Fostering Network

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Support for foster carers

When I am Ready Scheme

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Melo

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Cost of Living and Wellbeing Advice and Support

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MIND

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Wellbeing Hub for Blaenau Gwent

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A guide for young people

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Find a foodbank

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Waste and Recycling

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A guide for young people

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How My Travel Pass works

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Health and Wellbeing General Information

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Healthy Relationships

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What is a budget?

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How to Budget

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Budgeting Guide

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Banking

ChildreninWales — 2026-02-19 14:14:35 UTC

Budgeting Quiz/ Cyllidebu Cwis

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Metro Bank:

ChildreninWales — 2026-02-19 14:14:57 UTC

Metro Bank have developed a pragmatic, friendly account opening process. Instead of photo ID, Metro Bank stores will accept a letter from a Local Authority or Care Home confirming the young adults identity and for verification, Metro Bank colleagues will make a call to the Local Authority or Care Home to confirm the details of the letter.

A Guide to Saving

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Top Savings Tips

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Use the 50-30-20 Rule: Allocate 50% of income to essentials, 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% to savings or debt repayment.
"No Spend" Challenges: Dedicate weekends to zero discretionary spending, using items you already have at home.
Review Subscriptions & Bills: Regularly switch insurance providers, energy suppliers, and bank accounts to get better deals
Sell Unwanted Items: Use apps or car boot sales to sell unused clothes and household items

What is a Junior ISA?

ChildreninWales — 2026-02-19 14:18:02 UTC

Children who have been in local authority care for 12 months or more and who are not eligible for a Child Trust Fund are entitled to a £200 payment from the government into a Junior ISA.

Accessing Your Account

ChildreninWales — 2026-02-19 14:18:09 UTC

Eligibility: If a young person has been in care for at least 12 months then you will be submitted to The Share Foundation by the local authority who can start your savings account:

Access: When a young person turns 16, the Share Foundation will send a letter to your 'main contact' at the local authority which explains how they can start the process of gaining access to a Junior ISA or Child Trust Fund account.

If you have not received a letter or any information on your child trust fund account - please use this link https://findctf.sharefound.org -

Complete the online form and The Share Foundation will support you in gaining access to your account.

The Share Foundation

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What is a Child Trust Fund?

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A Child Trust Fund is a long-term tax-free savings account for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011.

Benefits and Entitlements

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Council Tax Reduction

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HelpU Tariff

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Broadband social tariffs

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Welsh Water Customer Assistance Fund

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What is Universal Credit?

ChildreninWales — 2026-03-03 18:13:26 UTC

Eligibility for Universal Credit:

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Can I claim Universal credit while on an apprenticeship?

ChildreninWales — 2026-03-03 18:13:49 UTC

Yes, you can claim Universal Credit while you are on a "recognised" apprenticeship which means you must have:

Have a named training provider.
Be working towards a recognised qualification.
Be paid at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for an apprentice.

Your eligibility for universal credit depends on how many hours your apprenticeship is. Please click the how to claim link and start your application or call your local job centre.

Can I claim for universal credit while in work?

ChildreninWales — 2026-03-03 18:13:59 UTC

Yes, you can claim Universal Credit while working. Universal Credit is designed to support you in work, and your payments will be adjusted based on your earnings. There's no limit to how many hours you can work while still receiving Universal Credit. Your payments will gradually reduce as your income increases, but you can still receive some support even if you're in work

How to apply for universal credit:

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UC: What you will get?

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Check your benefit entitlement

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Communities for Work+

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Quickstart

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Working Wales

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Supported Volunteering

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Gwent Out of Work Service

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Cyfle Cymru out of work service

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Employment- What I need to know

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Applying for jobs

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National Minimum Wage

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Housing related support

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Your rights and information about shared, social or private housing

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Contact details and emergency numbers if facing homelessness

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Homeless or threatened with homelessness

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Going to University

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Reaching Wider Programmes

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Bursaries and support at South Wales University

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Welsh Government Learning Grant, funding for Further Education

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Education Maintenance Allowance

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Student Finance Q&A

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Student Finance Wales

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Development Award Grant - The Princes Trust

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Financial support to help get into work and education. Click this link to find out more information.

Financial Support At Coleg Gwent

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Family Information Service

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Flying Start

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A guide for young people

ChildreninWales — 2026-03-05 08:38:10 UTC

Free Dental Care

ChildreninWales — 2026-03-05 08:38:18 UTC

To apply for free NHS Dental Care, you’ll need to request application forms from your midwife, GP or health visitor. You’ll receive a Maternity Exemption Certificate which will remain valid throughout your pregnancy, and for 12 months from your due date (pre-birth applications) or your baby’s actual date of birth (post-birth applications).

Financial Contingency Fund

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Payments from your college or university to help with the costs of childcare if you’re on a low income.

Sure Start Maternity Grant

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Claim Child Benefit

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Childcare Grant

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These are Weekly payments to help up to 85% of your childcare costs.

Healthy Start Food Payments

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The NHS Healthy Start scheme pays eligible families with young children (or expecting a child) up to £8.50 a week to help pay for ‘healthy’ foods such as fruit, vegetables and milk. You also get free vitamin supplements.

Top tips for finances when starting a family

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What are the differences between different types of banks?

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Budgeting for university

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How to make a basic budget for myself?

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Money Mules

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What to do if you are a victim of a scam?

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How can I avoid being scammed?

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The Big Money Ready Lesson: Scams

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Blaenau Gwent - Cymraeg

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The Kings Trust

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Support at Cardiff University

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Leaving Care Grant

ChildreninWales — 2026-03-20 11:08:22 UTC

💡 The leaving care grant is money given to you by the local authority when you leave care.

What Can the Grant Help Pay For?

🛏️ Bed and bedding
🛋️ Sofa or furniture
🍽️ Kitchen items and appliances
👕 Clothes
💻 Laptop or study equipment
📦 Moving costs
🏡 Basic household essentials

Chat to your PA for more information.

Household Bills

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NHS Dentist

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Find a GP

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Careers Wales

ChildreninWales — 2026-04-09 15:21:53 UTC

What is a national insurance number?

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What is a National Insurance Number

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National Insurance is a tax on earnings and self-employed profits. You normally start paying when you turn 16 and earn over a certain amount.

You will need your National Insurance too:

Apply or Employment
Access State Pension
Access Universal Credit
Access Maternity Allowance

Accessing Your National Insurance Number

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Your Social worker should apply for this when a young person is 15 years and 9 months old.
They will right to HMRC with your details i.e. full name, any previous names, date of birth, date of when you went into care, your address and your social workers details.
Your social worker will also send a copy of your birth certificate & passport and a copy of your care order.

What happens if I loose my National Insurance Number?

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If you have lost your national insurance number, please complete this form.

How to get a passport

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Apply for your provisional driving license

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Funding:

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If you are unemployed, If you are unemployed, a Jobcentre work coach work coach may be able to fund ID documents as part of training or employment support.
The Kings Trust offer development awards for young people 16-30 and the costs of provisional licenses if its for work or education

Understanding your payslip

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Changing address

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Contact your provider/ school or college/ bank/ local authority directly

Accommodation for care leavers

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Sexual and reproductive health

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Sexual Health Clinics

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Your options if you are pregnant

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Brook

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Young Wales

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The Kings Trust

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Blaenau Gwent Youth Service

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Youth Clubs

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Clubs

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Price up car insurance, tax and MOT

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PIP explained:

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Deep Clean Tips

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Cleaning top tips:

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platform

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Gwent Wellbeing College

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Your options Post 16 Education

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Food Bank and Food Pantry

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When I'm Ready

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Supported Lodgings

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Supported lodgings in Blaenau Gwent

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Click this link, scroll down for Q&A

Blaenau Gwent - Help for care leavers

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How to sort your finances for living independently

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Simple Savings

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Reach out

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Aspire

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Sports and leisure centres

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Coleg Gwent

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Turn2us Benefits calculator

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Mental health and wellbeing

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Mental Health Support

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MEIC Cymru

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Kooth Digital Health

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Papyrus

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Calm Zone

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