Concessionary Travel for Unemployed Young People

Last week, I brought a motion to the county council asking for a feasibility study looking into the implications of bringing in concessionary travel for young people in Oxfordshire aged 18-24 who are on Job Seekers' Allowance or apprenticeships.  This was to support young people to get into work by helping with their travel costs when attending interviews, training or work experience. 

Oxfordshire is a rural county, and I know that bus travel particularly around our area can cost nearly £5 a time, making it very expensive for those without their own cars.  Students at King Alfred's Academy had discussed this with me when I visited the school earlier in the month, and a young pupil from Cherwell School in Oxford came to the council meeting to address all councillors in support of my proposal.

Unfortunately, the idea was voted down by the ruling Conservative group, but it was interesting to see a few days later that a scheme introduced by the national bus industry to give job-seeking youngsters a month of free travel had been welcomed by the council on their website.

The ‘Bus for Jobs’ initiative will allow unlimited free travel throughout January for anyone holding a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card, so although not a permanent concession, it will at least help for just one month in the New Year.

Free travel will be available on around 70 per cent of the national bus network, including the majority of local routes in Oxfordshire. The county’s main operators, Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, Stagecoach and Arriva have all signed up to the scheme.   Full details of the scheme are available at www.busforus.co.uk

It would be good if this could be allowed to continue, but with tight budgets coming up in February, it will be a difficult challenge for all of us.