Skip to content

Care leavers to get free bus travel for longer

Pippa Rifka
BBC News, West of England
Weca A grey double decker bus parked under a tree, which is full of green leaves.Weca
A travel scheme for care leavers, which has been in place since 2023, is being extended

People leaving care will now be able to use buses across the west of England for free until they turn 26 years old.

Since 2023, a scheme has been in place allowing 18-21-year-old care leavers free bus travel across Bath, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

This has now been extended to cover care leavers until their 26th birthday, which could save each of them up to £1,050 a year, according to the West of England Combined Authority (Weca).

"We've got many more care leavers at risk of homelessness, health, addiction or mental health issues so this is really important," said Weca's mayor.

Helen Godwin used to be a cabinet member for children's services at Bristol City Council, before she was elected as Weca mayor on 1 May.

She explained care leavers "often don't have the same outcomes" as young people who have not been in care.

"We have many more care leavers who are not in education, employment or training," she said.

The scheme is being subsidised as part of a £16m bus grant secured by North Somerset Council and Weca, which takes in the local authority areas of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

"We've always tried to support our care leavers up to the age of 25, just because sometimes when life is more complicated it can take a bit longer for young people to get themselves into a situation where maybe there are in regular work or able to study," Ms Godwin added.

Weca Helen Godwin standing by a road in a red jacket, black top and black glasses. In the background there is a bus to her right, driving along the road.Weca
Helen Godwin says this scheme is just the start of further improvements to the area's bus network

The charity Barnardo's called for free bus travel for care leavers in 2023, following a pilot scheme in Cornwall.

At the time, the charity's director of children's services, Hugh Sherriffe, said: "Leaving care is a very challenging time and having access to free travel can have a positive and powerful impact on so many areas of young people's lives, helping them to take up opportunities that might otherwise have been denied them."

Leaders in the west of England have welcomed the extension, including South Gloucestershire Council's leader Maggie Tyrrell.

"The investment will make a real difference to some of our most vulnerable young people and help them access education, jobs and vital support networks," she said.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.