Charity Grace Eyre has re-launched its Travel Buddy project for 2015.
The Brighton & Hove travel training programme helps adults with learning disabilities gain the skills and confidence to travel safely by bus or by foot in the city.
The project re-launched with a goal of signing up 30 new users over the next year.
At the launch, Brighton and Hove Bus Company provided a ‘Drama on the Bus’ session for adults with learning disabilities. The sessions offered Grace Eyre users the chance to act out real life scenarios and discuss any concerns they may have about travelling on the bus. Scenarios included situations like ‘You have missed your stop: Stop the bus at the next stop and find out from the driver how to get back to where you want to go’ or ‘You have been bullied by other passengers on the bus: ask for the driver’s help and get an information ticket from him.’
Victoria Garcia, Customer Liaison Officer at Brighton & Hove Bus Company, said: “We are very pleased about the re-launch of the Travel Buddy scheme. Grace Eyre do incredible work supporting people in the community with learning disabilities and the Travel Buddy scheme is one of the fantastic initiatives that they have in place.
“We will of course continue to support this event and look forward to our continued partnership with Grace Eyre. My heart always lifts when I see all the guys and I always leave with a big smile on my face, they are a fabulous bunch.”
Ben Gardiner, Senior Project Worker for Travel Buddy Project, said: “It is clear to me how keen many people with learning disabilities are to have a bit more freedom and independence within their lives. Imagine always having to rely on other people to go out anywhere.
“To be able to work within a project that aims to develop people’s confidence in what they can do for themselves is incredibly rewarding – you can see it in people’s faces how exciting it can be to have a bit more freedom.”
