Young people leaving foster care or children’s homes who are struggling to gain employment or visit friends and family should be provided with free bus travel, according to children’s charity Barnardo’s.
With free bus travel already provided to older and disabled people through the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, the charity has launched a campaign urging the Government to extend this support to all those leaving social care aged 18-25 in England.
The charity says that children growing up in care are three times less likely to be in education, employment, or training than other young people their age, and are also prone to feeling cut off, lonely and isolated. Barnardo’s says providing such a scheme for care leavers could help young people leaving care to access jobs and support more easily and help combat feelings of loneliness and isolation.
The campaign is being backed by Stagecoach. UK Managing Director Carla Stockton-Jones said: “We’re pleased to be joining Barnardo’s in this important campaign. At Stagecoach, we are committed to making public transport accessible and affordable for everyone. We already have some of the lowest average weekly bus fares across the UK, and our industry leading national jobseekers discounted travel initiative is helping jobseekers back on board and into work.
“The Government can help build further on this by expanding concessionary travel to those other groups most in need, such as care leavers, supporting the drive to level up our communities.”
