Free school bus passes for 8,000 homeless children in region

The mayor has announced his office will pay for free bus travel to and from school for children placed in temporary accommodation on Thursday (February 5).

Eight Greater Manchester MPs backed the move of a free bus pass for schoolchildren in temporary housing more than 30 minutes’ walk from class after schools with homeless children hit out at government transport rules.

They say youngsters are only eligible for free travel if they live more than two miles from class (three miles for over-eights) and no ‘suitable school’ is nearer. But it’s almost impossible to be further than two miles from a school in the city.

They argued that because most temporary accommodation placements are often miles from home, it presented homeless families a difficult choice: Pay for buses they didn’t need to before, or move a child away from a support network when they need it most.

Mr Burnham confirmed that money will be set aside in his office’s new budget, and free Bee Network bus travel to and from school will be available for children from later this year.

He said: “Temporary accommodation is a symptom of wider housing and inequality issues up and down the country.

“We’re pioneering a new approach in Greater Manchester. It’s amongst the most ambitious in the UK, and we are working hard to reduce homelessness, with better support, early intervention, and, critically, more high-quality, affordable homes. Part of that is reducing the need for families to be in temporary accommodation.

“Using our locally-controlled Bee Network buses to support families when they need it most is the right thing to do. A move into temporary accommodation is often a massive upheaval for families and can be a worrying time. 

“With this measure, the cost of travel to school will be one less thing for families to worry about. It will mean parents and carers don’t have to choose between an extra demand on their household budget and keeping their children with friends and teachers they know and trust.”

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed money is set aside for the scheme in its budget that is ready to be approved next week.

Should it get the green light as expected, TfGM said it will work with the region’s 10 councils to finalise details on eligibility and implement it ‘later this year’.