For the first time, young people who have grown up in care are starting the financial year without a council tax bill.

This is part of a new Scottish Government "covenant" designed to improve opportunities for young people who have been looked after by local authorities.

STV met with Kelsie Logan from Kilbirnie, who is to receive the boost.

"I was panicking, I was scared. I didn't have a job at that time, and you've got all these bills to pay, so it was a struggle.

"There are young people out there who leave the system and haven't got a family.

"They find it hard because they look at their friends and think 'well you can just go back to your family'."

It was first a Scottish Government decision to exempt all care leavers from paying council tax until the age of 26, but in North Ayrshire, councillors had already put pen to paper on a similar plan.

Councillor Joe Cullinane said: "There's clear evidence of how much financial contribution a parent will give to their own children, and unfortunately a lot of children who are in the care system don't have that traditional family support network, so me as a corporate parent have a duty to fill that."

Ms Logan says it brings life-changing breathing space for her.

"I won't have to worry about my rent or how I'm going to get to work the next day, or how i'm going to get food in my fridge to last me until I get paid again," she said.

"I don't need to worry about that anymore because this is in place."