Young care leavers welcome free bus travel

Young care leavers are accessing free bus travel across North Somerset and the West of England Combined Authority areas, thanks to the WESTfares pass. Since the scheme was launched in November for national Care Leavers Week, over 400 applications have been submitted for a pass and over 26,000 free journeys have been made.

North Somerset Council is helping young care leavers get to work, attend appointments, enjoy social activities and build connections.

One user of the service said: "It has allowed me to see my family in Weston whenever I would like, feeling more supported and building better relationships with them as previously I would have to ask for a bus ticket, and it made me feel embarrassed to ask."

The WESTfares pass has also supported users looking for employment and provided them with access to new opportunities.

One user said that the pass: "Has allowed me to start volunteering in Clevedon and be able to look for future jobs in Bristol."

Another young care leaver praised the scheme: "This has allowed me to look for jobs in Weston-super-Mare town centre and other areas instead of just in my area in Yatton, this has opened up more opportunities for me."

In addition, the scheme is offering young care leavers the opportunity to gain independence and learn new skills.

One carer of a teenager said: "The bus pass has allowed him to learn about safety on buses and try out some smaller bus routes around his accommodation. As he has autism this is allowing him to learn independent skills and know the bus routes, so he will be able to do them independently in the future."

All the main bus companies, including First and Stagecoach, have signed up to the initiative and WESTlink on-demand buses will also offer free travel. This pass is valid until the end of March 2025 or the user turns 22 (whichever is first). To find out more about the travel offer and apply for a pass, visit www.westfares.co.uk.

Cllr Hannah Young, Executive Member for Highways and Transport at North Somerset Council, said: "It's fantastic that young care leavers are signing up for a WESTfares pass and using the scheme to travel for free across our region. The WESTfares pass is helping young people enjoy social activities and to see more of what North Somerset has to offer. As we approach the warmer months and a host of summer events in our region, it is a great time for more young care leavers to sign up for free bus travel."

Cllr Catherine Gibbons, Deputy Leader of North Somerset Council and Executive Member for Children's Services, Families, and Lifelong Learning, said: "The council is committed to making sure our young residents are given the best chances to succeed. It's great that young care leavers can access new opportunities through the WESTfares pass. The scheme is helping to break down barriers and providing young care leavers with access to further opportunities, including work, education and key services".

North Somerset Council also offers events for young care leavers. The Care Leavers Forum is an opportunity for care experienced children and young people in North Somerset, between the ages of 16 and 25, to get together and share their thoughts and feelings about their life as a child in care and as well as their life since leaving care. The council offers free food and soft drinks at each forum and holds both face to face and virtual events.

Members of the Care Leavers Forum are invited to be a part of various strategy and policy changes, as well as asked their views on various other young person directed projects. This includes North Somerset Council's young person's interview panels, parenting panel and so much more.

The Care Leavers Forum will be taking place on the following dates throughout 2024, from 4.30pm-6pm:

Face to face sessions:

• Wednesday 8 May
• Wednesday 10 July
• Wednesday 30 October

Virtual sessions:

• Wednesday 12 June
• Wednesday 11 September
• Wednesday 13 November

If young people are interested in attending, they can contact their Leaving Care Personal Advisor, or speak to the duty team by emailing [email protected] or calling 01934 421 900.

If you are under 16 and would like to join a group similar to this, the council also runs a children in care council. You can contact Young Director Bethany Swann on [email protected] or Ella Bunting, Participation Officer, on [email protected].

Working in partnership, North Somerset Council and the West of England Combined Authority want to encourage everyone to 'walk or wheel' where possible, helping reach their carbon neutral goal by 2030. When that's not possible, they want bus travel to be the first choice over car usage, helping ease traffic congestion and creating a greener way to travel.

Across North Somerset, single bus fares are capped for adults at £2 and £1 for children until December 2024.