Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund: operational guidance 2023 to 2024

Allocations

Funding is provided to local authorities annually to support care experienced children and young people at a figure of £1,225 per looked after child aged 5-15, as outlined in the Children’s Social Work Statistics Scotland, 2021/22.

In 2022/23 the distribution methodology for Care Experienced Children and Young People Funding increased to align with the uplift in PEF, to £1,225 from £1,200. The same methodology is being used for the 2023/24 Allocations.

Although the allocations are based on the 5-15 age group who are currently looked after (agreed with COSLA as the best proxy for needs-based distribution), local authorities should use their local data to understand which individual children, groups of children, or families would benefit most from this additional funding. This includes considering the needs of all young people aged 0-26 who are eligible to be supported and engaging with partner agencies and establishments to provide this.

Drawdown Dates

Local authorities will receive funding over two instalments in 2023/24.

First Drawdown: January 2024

Second Drawdown: June 2024

The 2023/24 Care Experienced Children and Young People Allocations can be found here: www.gov.scot