Hundreds more young people set to benefit from free travel as successful pilot is rolled out across the North East
A successful pilot project has helped to secure additional funding, via the Government's Bus Service Improvement Plan, to expand a free travel offer to over 1,500 who have lived in care across Tyne and Wear, Durham and Northumberland.
Last year saw the launch of the project to offer young people who have recently left local authority care in Newcastle and Gateshead free travel on the local bus and Metro network to support them into adult life.
The pilot scheme, the first of its kind in the country, was a partnership between Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Council, Nexus and bus operators, with funding from the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board.
This original scheme gave more than 300 young people aged 18 to 25 a Pop smart card with an annual Network One season ticket, providing a year's free travel across all local public transport in Tyne and Wear.
One year on from the pilot launch, over 1800 free journeys have been taken by the eligible young people on both the bus and metro network every month.
Many care-experienced young people highlighted that travel costs had a significant impact on their wellbeing, opportunities for education and work as well as their ability to socialise with family and friends.
Cllr Gary Haley, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Gateshead Council, said: "There's no better way to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the pilot scheme than by talking to the young people who have benefited from the free travel and hearing what a difference it has made for them.
"The offer of free travel for even more care leavers in the region is brilliant news and we are proud to have been part of the pilot that has helped to secure the funding to make this happen."
Samantha Allen, chief executive of North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: "Getting free access to transport has already made a difference in many young people's lives in our region. This is another big step forward, making it easier for more young people to access training and jobs, look after their health, keep up with friends and live independently."
Find out more about our Local Offer for care leavers
A successful pilot project has helped to secure additional funding, via the Government's Bus Service Improvement Plan, to expand a free travel offer to over 1,500 who have lived in care across Tyne and Wear, Durham and Northumberland.
Last year saw the launch of the project to offer young people who have recently left local authority care in Newcastle and Gateshead free travel on the local bus and Metro network to support them into adult life.
The pilot scheme, the first of its kind in the country, was a partnership between Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Council, Nexus and bus operators, with funding from the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board.
This original scheme gave more than 300 young people aged 18 to 25 a Pop smart card with an annual Network One season ticket, providing a year's free travel across all local public transport in Tyne and Wear.
One year on from the pilot launch, over 1800 free journeys have been taken by the eligible young people on both the bus and metro network every month.
Many care-experienced young people highlighted that travel costs had a significant impact on their wellbeing, opportunities for education and work as well as their ability to socialise with family and friends.
Cllr Gary Haley, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Gateshead Council, said: "There's no better way to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the pilot scheme than by talking to the young people who have benefited from the free travel and hearing what a difference it has made for them.
"The offer of free travel for even more care leavers in the region is brilliant news and we are proud to have been part of the pilot that has helped to secure the funding to make this happen."
Samantha Allen, chief executive of North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: "Getting free access to transport has already made a difference in many young people's lives in our region. This is another big step forward, making it easier for more young people to access training and jobs, look after their health, keep up with friends and live independently."
Find out more about our Local Offer for care leavers
