“Plugz” is Nottingham City Council’s innovative new app and digital platform, designed to connect care-experienced young people with their local offer.

This modern tool transforms how we inform care leavers about their rights and entitlements, empowering them to access the support they need while fostering greater independence as they transition out of care.

Co-produced and named by care leavers themselves, Plugz ensures that young people can easily find information about the support, opportunities, and resources available to them, in line with the Local Authority’s statutory duty to publish its local offer.

Traditional communication methods, such as letters, face-to-face meetings, and browser-based content, often fail to meet the needs of young people. Plugz was developed to address this gap by delivering timely, accessible information directly to young people’s mobile devices, reflecting how they prefer to engage with information today.

Key Features:

Centralised Information and Advice Plugz acts as a one-stop hub for care-experienced young people and professionals, offering:

• Details on housing and other post 18 accommodation options.

• Current education, training, and employment opportunities and support.

• Guidance on managing money, finances, and budgeting.

• Support for health, wellbeing, and building relationships.

• Specialist resources for young parents and those navigating the asylum process.

Enhanced Communication Plugz keeps care experienced young people informed and engaged by:

• Sharing updates on local events, activities, and opportunities.

• Allowing young people to share their views and participate in service design through participation in surveys and polls.

• Providing features to request advice and support and give feedback on the service they receive via secure messaging (exclusively for care experienced young people with a verified account)

• Offering instant translation into a wide range of languages, ensuring young people whose first language is not English can easily access and understand the local offer.

• For our care leavers aged 21 and over who are no longer actively accessing the service and without an allocated Personal Advisor in regular contact, Plugz acts as a vital communication bridge.

Push notifications, event updates, and direct messaging ensure the council can maintain regular contact, fulfilling its statutory duty to continue supporting all former relevant and qualifying care leavers until the age of 25.

Comprehensive Service Directory Plugz includes a detailed directory of local services and support, making it easy for care-experienced young people to find and access the help they need.

Download Plugz Today!

Care-experienced young people and professionals can download the Plugz app now from:

• App Store (iOS)

• Google Play Store (Android)