Impact on young people and their families

All professional stakeholders were asked what the main impacts of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme to date had been for children and young people and their families, if any. While four respondents did not provide a response, one said there had been no impact, and six indicated they either did not know or did not have enough direct contact with young people and their families to be able to answer. A total of 35 respondents discussed such impacts.

Financial Savings/Removing Cost Barriers

Consistent with the findings from young people and their families, professional stakeholders identified cost savings for young people and their families as one of the main benefits of the scheme. It was also suggested that the scheme had removed any anxiety or worries around the cost of travel, and removed the cost barrier to travel and transport for young people:

“As a result of the U22 scheme, more young people are accessing free bus travel, which creates more opportunities to stay active, socialise and travel for education or work purposes. Not having money for a bus fare is no longer a barrier to a young person being able to travel.” (Representative Body)

“The U22 ticket will allow more freedom to the user as they have peace of mind they can travel/explore whenever they need despite their financial situation.” (Bus Operator)

It was also suggested that the scheme avoided any stigma that might have been felt by young people and their families had the scheme been means tested or involved other limited eligibility:

“Has allowed less of a worry about travel to opportunities and also enabled some families to settle due to access. Less of a stigma as it is a scheme for all young people.” (Skills, Training and Education Organisation)

Similarly, the scheme was said to provide peace of mind for parents/carers around their children’s travel. It was felt that parents/carers no longer had to worry about the cost of their children’s travel, and that the scheme had removed the financial strain on families of paying for bus tickets for their children.

Those representing island authorities noted that, while the benefits and cost savings available were not generally realised from on-island travel, the scheme was beneficial for resident families with young people studying or visiting the mainland:

“As services are limited within our area…The real benefit to families is from mainland journeys and travel while on holiday or doing further education.” (Local Authority)

The financial savings were also said to support young people and their families more generally, allowing them to have money to spend on other things.

Tackling Cost Barriers to Education

One stakeholder organisation that had undertaken an informal feedback survey among young people noted that the financial benefits of the scheme often coincided with improved access to education or work opportunities:

“We have substantial evidence that young people have hugely benefited from the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel… The most common theme to appear in feedback was around the financial benefits of the scheme. Around half of responses mentioned this in some manner, mostly showing the financial strain that is taken off of travel for young people. This often coincided with a common mention of improvement to their educational and working life with young people stating frequently that the scheme allowed them to travel to school/university/college/work much more easily and without concern of financial implications.” (Children and Families’ Rights/Support/Campaign Organisation)

Another respondent indicated that the provision of free bus travel had been beneficial for school children in ensuring that they could access educational opportunities, namely school trips, due to removing the financial barrier. They felt this had been particularly valuable for families experiencing poverty.

The main benefit reported by respondents in this respect, however, was in relation to further and higher education. Several respondents perceived the scheme to be a ‘leveller’, providing greater equality in access, particularly in terms of access to educational opportunities and supporting students to continue with their studies by removing the financial travel barrier. It was again noted that the universal nature of the scheme ensured there was no stigma for those who would have otherwise had to seek help with their travel costs:

“Our students face so many barriers and their previous travel allowance would be spent on other things, which meant they had no money to travel to classes, now they know they can always have their bus pass to travel to college.” (Skills, Training and Education Organisation)

One RTP, however, noted that, although the scheme was supporting those in higher and further education, not all students were eligible (i.e. those aged 22 and over). As such, the above benefit of removing the transport cost barrier to further and higher education was not necessarily available to all who attend these institutions:

“It is worth noting that not all students will be eligible for the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme such as those in later stages of study, postgraduate and mature students.” (RTP)

Cost of Living Help

Throughout the consultation survey, many respondents, across all sectors, suggested that the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme was highly beneficial for young people and their families in helping them through the current ‘cost of living crisis’. Some noted that it saved them money, which was then available for other household expenses/needs:

“For parents whose children travel frequently on buses, there is a significant saving for the family, especially at a time where the cost of living crisis affects many. Money saved on bus travel can be used to pay for other family expenses.” (Representative Body)

Others suggested that the free bus travel meant that young people could continue to access activities and opportunities, without being restricted by travel costs:

“With the cost of living I would say this will have been a huge help to families being able to send their children places without worrying about the cost of a bus ticket.” (Local Authority)

Independence

Also consistent with the findings in the Year One Evaluation Report, increased freedom and independence for young people was highlighted as another one of the main benefits of the scheme:

“For some children and young people, the availability of free travel has enabled them to travel by bus more often to access services or meet up with friends, thus providing them with greater independence.” (Bus Operator)

“Freedom, independence, relief that they do not have to budget for travel. It also promotes and supports, for some individuals that struggle[d] to travel independently… to now be able to access this.” (Skills, Training and Education Organisation)

It was felt that the scheme had created “greater opportunities for travel” (Local Authority), and facilitated greater access to travel generally, buses in particular, and supported young people to travel more often and further afield. Indeed, many stakeholders indicated that there had been an increase in the number of young people both travelling by bus and travelling more often since the introduction of the scheme.

Accessing Opportunities

The stakeholder survey also highlighted positive impacts of the scheme on supporting young people to access a wide range of new opportunities. This included a range of social and leisure-based activities, as well as improved access to education and employment:

“Young people are able to access free bus travel which means they can attend clubs and activities outwith school hours; travel to work and college for young workers and students; travel on the mainland, particularly for young people studying away from home.” (Local Authority)

The organisation that had conducted a feedback survey with young people also highlighted improved social opportunities and access to services and activities for young people living on islands with good links to the mainland. They noted that this had allowed young people in these areas to meet friends, attend events, have shopping trips, and essentially behave like their peers who lived more centrally.

This same organisation noted that there had also been increased opportunities for young people to visit family and friends more often. While this was welcomed by younger people who were able to visit and travel with other family members, this also allowed young people living away from home (often students) to visit their home/ parents/carers more often:

“The ability to visit family and friends more often was also a common discussion for respondents. From travelling home from university to visiting relatives who lived further away, young people seemed to view this as another common way the scheme has impacted them.” (Children and Families’ Rights/Support/Campaign Organisation)

In addition to supporting students in further and higher education (discussed above), one respondent also noted that the scheme allowed children to attend schools outwith their catchment areas, while others suggested it had supported young people to look for and access both education and work opportunities that were further afield.

One local authority also indicated that young people and their families had been able to access support services as a result of the scheme:

“Social Work have been able to take advantage of this. Families that couldn’t afford placements for young people with additional needs have now been able to get to workshops, placements, etc.” (Local Authority)

It was also suggested that the scheme was beneficial for young people in terms of being more active and improved mental and physical health as they were able to access parks, walking routes, etc.

Family Travel

Several respondents highlighted that one of the benefits for families was that there would be a financial saving when travelling together (as the children/young people would travel for free) and there was an expectation that family travel would increase as a result:

“The scheme incentivises travel by bus for young people and this will also stimulate travel by bus by parents and carers. This is positive… The scheme is a positive intervention that will increase bus use by whole families.” (RTP)

Others indicated that families were indeed now travelling more by bus as a result of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme:

“The impact has been really positive with families getting out and about together, parents not having to worry about paying out for bus fares, being able to take part in more events with not having to worry about how to get there.” (Local Authority)

One professional stakeholder also suggested that grandparents using the bus to travel with grandchildren was an aspect of the scheme that should be further promoted:

“We should be promoting the scheme in conjunction with the older people’s concessionary card to encourage grandparents to get out and about using the bus, particularly during school holidays or at weekends.” (Local Authority)

Young people and families who took part in the Year One Evaluation also reported that this was something that the scheme had already encouraged, with young people said to be travelling more often by bus with siblings, grandparents, and their families.

Wider Savings for Young People and Families

The general travel savings or affordability of transport and travel was not the only cost savings said to be available to young people and families, with stakeholders highlighting the other discounts that could be accessed and used in combination with the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme via the Young Scot card. It was noted that the Young Scot card provided access to discounts across many national and local shops and for services, that the Young Scot NEC is also the European Youth Card with discounts across Europe, and that the Young Scot NEC also provided free legal proof of age:

“Young Scot National Entitlement Card is a shared asset to give young people personalised enhanced entitlements, opportunities, incentives and services in a non-stigmatising way - free bus travel for Under 22s is one of a number of services currently available on the card.” (Children and Families’ Rights/Support/Campaign Organisation)