Bolton children in temporary housing to get free bus travel to school

It comes as free bus travel over the summer holiday for children comes to an end.

The move to offer the free travel is designed to ensure children placed in temporary accommodation can stay at their school, maintaining their routine and minimising disruption to their education.

The Mayor Bev Craig announced when she was elected that the free bus travel offer for children in temporary accommodation would be in place for the new school year.

She has now confirmed that the policy will come into effect from today (1 September).

Families living in temporary accommodation who are eligible – which includes those living more than two miles from their school or where their route is considered unsafe to walk – will be assessed for eligibility by their local council who will then issue the pass.

Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “I believe everyone deserves a safe home they can afford. Across our region, too many people face the risk of homelessness.

“As Mayor, I’m committed to reducing the number of families stuck in temporary housing, including by building 50,000 council and genuinely affordable homes.

“We know that some children end up a long way from their school when placed into temporary accommodation. That’s why I’ve also promised to reduce the prevalence of out-of-borough placements to keep families in their communities.

“But we need to help families facing homelessness now, when they need it most. That’s why I backed the campaign to give children living in temporary accommodation free travel to and from school on Bee Network buses and I’m pleased that, as Mayor, we are making it a reality – to make life that little bit easier in difficult times.”

The Greater Manchester Strategy – the plan for the city region’s next decade – commits to reducing the number of families and children in temporary accommodation.

Measures are also being taken to make sure residents have the support they need to access, improve and retain a decent, affordable home.

As part of that free Bee Network bus travel to and from school will be provided to children placed in temporary housing by a local authority in Greater Manchester from today (1 September).

Sam Pratt, Policy and Communications Lead at Shared Health Foundation, a charity which supports homeless families in Greater Manchester, said: “We are really pleased to finally see bus passes will be provided for homeless children living in temporary accommodation. Even more significant is that their parent or carer will be offered support while accompanying them to school too.

“For children already facing the uncertainty and disruption that comes with living in temporary accommodation, ensuring they have the cost covered to travel to school will ease the burden of being homeless.”

The free school pass will be available to primary and secondary school aged children living in temporary accommodation that is located more than two miles from their school or if they live within two miles, but the route is not considered safe to walk.

Parents or carers of eligible children under 12 will also be provided with a linked pass, allowing them to take their children to school and collect them at the end of the day.