Councils have a legal duty to provide grants to help young people furnish their accommodation when leaving care. The Care Leavers' Foundation says £2,500 is the "bare minimum" that young people need.
But a freedom of information request sent to all 152 councils and answered by 114, has uncovered massive variations in the amount paid to care leavers nationwide. The results have triggered fears that young people are being forced to choose between buying essential items such as a bed or a fridge.
Slough, Nottingham City and Essex councils offer maximum leaving care grants of just £750, £784 and £850 respectively. But the City of London and Halton councils give care leavers up to £2,500, Milton Keynes up to £2,464.50 and Richmond upon Thames up to £2,274.
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