CARE leavers on the Isle of Wight will now be exempt from paying council tax.

The changes will come into affect from April 2019 and will give a 100 per cent discount to all care leavers, up to the age of 25.

A care leaver is any young person who has left the care of the local authority.

The decision was made after appeals by care leavers themselves to the council following a discussion on housing at the care leavers’ board.

Cabinet member for children’s services, Cllr Paul Brading, said the Isle of Wight was one of the first authorities in the country to implement such a measure.

He said: “One of the care leavers said to us, ‘It would be nice if we did not have to pay council tax’.

“It feels nice to do that. Many people do not know about it, and it’s nice for the young people to not have that worry.

“This is what they asked for, and we are showing them we have listened.

“They have told us they are grateful we listened to them.”