04/07/2012
'Neets' To Benefit From Possible Free Bus Travel
Britain’s one million-plus Neets – the acronym for young people not in education, employment or training – could soon benefit from free bus travel after leading bus operators have pledged to back a plan aimed at helping the under-25s back to work.
The scheme, already backed by the big five transport firms who run 70% of the UK bus services, would offer limited free or heavily discounted travel.
The details are yet to be agreed nationwide but should enable the record numbers of young unemployed to benefit from some kind of assistance by mid-autumn – likely a voucher scheme, albeit still far less generous than the passes enjoyed by all over-65s.
The proposals come from Greener Journeys – a campaign funded by Arriva, FirstGroup, Go-Ahead and Stagecoach. National Express has also agreed to back the scheme. The costs would be paid from the bus operators' existing revenues and grants rather than new funding, although government help will be needed to design effective identification of eligible passengers.
Brian Souter, the chief executive of Stagecoach, said: "The discounted travel scheme being developed could make the vital difference between a life of worklessness and getting a job, helping more young people to make a better start in life."
(H/GK)
The scheme, already backed by the big five transport firms who run 70% of the UK bus services, would offer limited free or heavily discounted travel.
The details are yet to be agreed nationwide but should enable the record numbers of young unemployed to benefit from some kind of assistance by mid-autumn – likely a voucher scheme, albeit still far less generous than the passes enjoyed by all over-65s.
The proposals come from Greener Journeys – a campaign funded by Arriva, FirstGroup, Go-Ahead and Stagecoach. National Express has also agreed to back the scheme. The costs would be paid from the bus operators' existing revenues and grants rather than new funding, although government help will be needed to design effective identification of eligible passengers.
Brian Souter, the chief executive of Stagecoach, said: "The discounted travel scheme being developed could make the vital difference between a life of worklessness and getting a job, helping more young people to make a better start in life."
(H/GK)
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