Tax exemption is extended for care leavers
TEENAGERS and young adults leaving the care system will benefit further from the full council tax exemption, which has now been extended.
In March 2017, Rochdale Borough Council became the first council in Greater Manchester, and one of the first councils in the country, to introduce 100 per cent council tax discount scheme for care leavers aged between 18 and 21.
They then further extended that in December 2018 by agreeing to increase the eligibility to those up to 25 years old.
All Greater Manchester councils have since followed Rochdale’s lead, which was praised by the Children’s Society when first launched.
The entitlement previously only applied to those that fall under the definition of a care leaver, coming into care on or before their 16th birthday.
Now councillors have voted unanimously to include those who come into care after their 16th birthday, further extending the amount of people who will benefit from this support.
Coun Rachel Massey, Rochdale Council’s cabinet member for children’s services and education, said: “It is really important that care leavers get a great start at independent living and we want to help as much as possible in our corporate parenting role.
“We all want the best for our cared for children and I am really pleased to see my fellow councillors back this new proposal.
“I know it will go a long way to supporting our care leavers.”
It was the late Luke Sharp, a care leaver, who worked closely with councillors through his corporate parenting board role, to ask them to consider a council tax exemption for care leavers.
Luke understood the financial pressures faced by care leavers as they become independent young adults and the fact that paying council tax was a very real challenge.
Coun Massey added: “We’re proud of our record on this topic, it’s through the work of Luke that this work continues to progress and support more and more young people.
“It’s fitting that we talk about Luke’s contribution to local care leavers after we’ve held Our Big Day, our annual celebration of children in care, where we award a young person the Luke Sharp Memorial Award in his honour. I’m sure he’d be very proud that his legacy continues.”
As corporate parents, the council has the responsibility to keep them safe, make sure their experiences in care are positive and improve their on-going life chances.
The council supports all care leavers up to the age of 25 with a range of things like accommodation, budgeting, health, careers advice and a regular support group that any care leaver is welcome to join.
For more information on support for care leavers please visit: rochdale. gov. uk/ careleavers
Fair Price Funerals, one of Manchester’s leading independent award-winning funeral directors, is celebrating 10 years in business this year. In that time, the funeral directors has conducted over 4,000 funerals and saved families over £10 million in funeral costs. Previously featured on Radio 2 with Jeremy Vine, was the first funeral directors to offer an inclusive price for a complete traditional service. The business offers traditional funeral services at all crematoriums throughout Manchester and North West areas for ‘one fair price’ of £2,350. The fixed price covers every part of the service, from the moment that a deceased person is collected from the house, hospice or nursing home, to when the curtains close at the crematorium. This includes doctors fees, crematorium fees, third party costs, a hearse, oak-veneered coffin and staff, as well as silk flowers and displays. Furthermore, Fair Price Funerals’ personal approach lets you choose the time of the service and at which crematorium in the region. The only additional charge is whether you want a minister or celebrant to conduct the funeral or memorial service, as they charge a standard industry fee of £200. Owner Mark Roebuck says: “For many years, pricing in the funeral industry was very confusing and far too expensive. “We were the first to offer a plain, simple, true pricing for a service and continue to do that today.
Fair Price Funerals specialises in cremations, but offers burial services also. Due to the varying charges involved with burials however, these cannot be offered at a fixed price.
An advocate for regulation in the funeral industry, Mark has spoken openly about funeral poverty and the need for legislation, not only on Radio 2 with Jeremy Vine, but on Radio 4’s You and Yours and BBC Radio Manchester.
Originally based in Compstall, Fair Price Funerals is now based at new premises in Bredbury, which houses its offices and a 15-strong fleet of vehicles.
It remains a small, hands-on, very personal company run by Mark, Adrian and a handful of staff, including office manager Sally and assistant Jeanette.