y plan. 33 Chapter 4: Care leavers aged 18-24 Introduction 4.1. The 1989 Act requires the responsible authority to continue to provide various forms of advice, assistance and guidance to young people over the age of 18 making the transition from care to more independent living arrangements. These requirements apply if they have previously been eligible or relevant children, who are described as former relevant children (and may apply to qualifying children, depending on the local authority’s assessment of their needs). 4.2. These duties operate primarily until the young person reaches the age of 21. However, the duties continue beyond a young person’s 21st birthday where they remain engaged in education or training and continue until the end of the agreed programme as set out in their pathway plan. 4.3. Section 24B(2) gives a power to local authorities to assist with the expenses associated with education and training up to the age of 21. For the most part this will be in respect of “qualifying” young people. Duties 4.4. For former relevant young people, the responsible authority will continue to: • provide the young person with a PA (section 23C(3)(a) of the 1989 Act); • review and revise the pathway plan regularly (section 23C(3)(b)); and • keep in touch (section 23C(2)(a) and (b)). 4.5. Responsible authorities’ duty to provide accommodation and maintenance for care leavers ends when they reach 18. However they have duties to: • provide general assistance (section 23C(4)(c)); • provide assistance with the expenses associated with employment (section 23C(4)(a)); • provide assistance with the expenses associated with education and training (section 23C(4)(b)); • provide vacation accommodation (or the funds to secure it) to care leavers in Higher Education, or in residen