Find out about changes to our services and Christmas opening times on our Festive information page. To find out when your bin will be collected over the festive period, visit Changes to County Durham bin collections at Christmas.

Due to maintenance, the following systems will be unavailable from 11.45am on Tuesday 24 December until 8.00am on Thursday 2 January: our online Council Tax, business rates and housing benefit services, and our welfare assistance form. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Learning to drive for care leavers

Learning to drive is a great way of becoming independent. We can give you support to help you do this including money towards your driving lessons and tests.

Through the Drive Project you can get up to £500 towards your driving lessons, theory and practical tests. CBT motorcycle training is also included in the scheme.

It's limited to 15 people per year, but if it's full you can be added to the waiting list.

To access the project, you must be 17 to 21 years old (or 25 if you are still in full-time education) and it must be part of your pathway plan.

Find out more about Investing in Children: The Drive Project.

Contact Young People's Service