Breadcrumbs
Can you give me a lift, Mum? - 24 March 2004
Launching a good practice guide Transport, young
people and rural areas at the UK Youth
Parliament Transport Awareness event in
London today (Wednesday 24 March), Sir Ewen praised the imaginative
transport projects that have been created by young people in rural
areas: “About 30% of the rural population is made up of young
people but transport provision doesn’t reflect this.
Many are subsequently dependent on other family members giving them
a lift to places they want to go, leaving them excluded from many
of the opportunities enjoyed by those living in towns and
cities.
“We have seen some innovative schemes that have been successfully implemented in rural areas where young people have identified the transport problems and set about solving them. The B_line card* in Derbyshire which provides travel concessions for young people up to the age of 18, is an impressive example that shows what can be achieved. We want to encourage more schemes like this to show that real improvements can be made.
“The Countryside Agency has long recognised these transport problems. Through our Rural Transport Partnerships we have funded many projects for young people, including 38 Wheels to Work schemes, which give young people in rural areas the chance to get to training or work, usually on a moped loaned to them until they can afford to get their own transport, and this has shown us first hand what can be achieved. These initiatives tackle an issue that is at the heart of rural social deprivation and we would like to see more like them,” concluded Sir Ewen.
Projects spearheaded by young people include:
Ribble Valley Youthlink: a bus service providing transport to the youth centre at Bowland High School in Lancashire. The scheme is supported by North Lancashire Rural Transport Partnership. Contact John Kirkham, manager: Ribble Valley youth & community services, tel 01254 824544
*Derbyshire County Council B_line card: a concessionary fares scheme for young people up to the age of 18 which gives them access to the travel concession and also of range of discounts and promotions in 500 places throughout Derbyshire. Contact John Rogers, head of engaging young people unit, tel 01629-580-000 ext 5725
Leighton Linslade Youth Forum Youth Bus: young people in the area had no way of getting to local leisure facilities. The bus now provides this transport – the membership fee for young people is £1 a year; then they pay £2 per journey. The project is supported by South Bedfordshire District Council, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Rural Transport Partnership, Bedfordshire County Council and Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust .Contact Linda Weerasirie, citizenship coordinator for young people, tel 01767 211546
Youth of the Moorlands Action Committee (YOMAC): young people from across the Staffordshire Moorlands attend YOMAC meetings every two weeks, leaving them with a hefty travel bill. To help keep costs down the local Rural Transport Partnership gave them a £2,000 grant which enables them to hire a minibus from a local bus company. Contact Kate Martin, youth participation worker, tel 01782-394-775
-ends-
The Youth Parliament Transport Awareness event is sponsored by the Countryside Agency, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Transport. The event will be held in the Betty Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, London SW1 from 2-5pm on Wednesday 24th March.
Copies of the guide are available from: kate.parish@ukyouthparliament.org.uk
Notes to editors:
For more information on Rural Transport Partnerships and the Wheels to Work scheme visit the Countryside Agency website: http://www.countryside.gov.uk/
