SOME of society's most vulnerable young people are to be given additional support when it comes to paying their taxes.

Swindon is set to join a number of other towns across the country in giving those who have been in care as a child a full council tax exemption.

The proposal, which will go before the council's cabinet on Wednesday where it is expected to receive unanimous support, is the result of a project looking at how the council can do more to help those falling into arrears across the borough while reducing the use of bailiffs.

In addition to the full exemption for those under 21, the cabinet is also expected to approve a consultation to explore a further exemption for care leavers under the age of 25 who are experiencing particular financial hardship.

Care leavers living with another person would see the household bill reduced by 50 per cent. It is further proposed that where care leavers have joint council tax responsibility with two other people the discount will be 33 per cent and similarly, 25 per cent if the joint responsibility is with three others.

Russell Holland, the cabinet member for finance and deputy leader of the council, said he was pleased to be able to bring forward an initiative which should have such a positive impact on those who have had a challenging youth.

"We’ve been working on social inclusion issues in the borough for some time," said Coun Holland. "Coun Foley and I wanted to see what more we could do to help young people.

"The council is effectively corporate parents for care leavers.

"If a young person is in difficulty, often parents will try to help. We’re trying to do the same."

The proposed policy change has received early cross-party support.

Labour councillor and Swindon Borough Council foster carer, Jim Robbins, said: "I’m pleased to see this policy come forward to cabinet.

"The average young person stays at home until 22 nowadays and one in 10 are still at home at 40.

"Stopping support for our looked-after children at 18 isn’t in line with this and, as corporate parents, this is the least we can do to support them."

Initiatives such as that being proposed in Swindon have received support from leading organisations in the field.

Sam Royston, director of policy and research at The Children's Society, said: "Care leavers have often experienced a really difficult upbringing and they may have experienced abuse, neglect or family breakdown, which can have a big impact upon their life chances.

"Without the family support most young people get as they become adults, care leavers often struggle to juggle their household bills and make ends meet.

"Many find themselves in debt, or having to go without food or other basic necessities. To expect some of the country's most vulnerable young people to start paying council tax just days after leaving care is setting them up to fail.

"Council tax exemption is a relatively inexpensive policy for councils. It's targeted at a small, vulnerable group and it has received cross-party support."

If agreed by the cabinet on Wednesday, the discounts and exemptions will come into force at the start of the next financial year in April 2018 with discretion to cancel any outstanding arrears owed prior to that date.