Barnardo’s campaign – Transport for Freedom – is calling for free bus travel for all care leavers in England aged 18-25. This is an important measure that could significantly improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable young people in our society, by helping to ‘level up’ their opportunities.
In 2019-21, Barnardo’s teamed up with a local charity called Carefree, which is based in Cornwall, to pilot free bus travel for care-experienced young people. With support from bus operator First Bus, we provided free bus passes for local care leavers for a year. Meanwhile, young people supported by Barnardo’s in Bristol have been working to persuade the council to fund free bus travel in their local area. However, while in both cases young people made a strong case and while representatives in both local authorities were sympathetic to their arguments, shortages in funding has made it very difficult to introduce comprehensive schemes. While conversations are ongoing locally, the introduction of a national scheme backed by Government funding would enable local authorities looking to improve care leavers’ access to transport, to take the necessary action.
This short paper draws on findings from these local examples and makes the case for free bus travel for care leavers England-wide.