Care-experienced young people across the North East will continue to benefit from free, unlimited public transport after Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, confirmed the extension of the region's Care Experienced Travel Scheme.
The scheme, which is funded and supported by the Mayor, provides young adults aged 18 to 25 who have left local authority care with a free Pop smartcard, allowing unlimited travel on buses, Metro services and the Shields Ferry throughout the North East.
Introduced in 2023, the initiative has already enabled more than 122,000 journeys across the region's seven local authority areas, helping care leavers access education, employment, training and essential services while easing the financial pressures created by the rising cost of living.
Announcing the continuation of the programme, Mayor of the North East Kim McGuinness said:
“The cost of living is hitting young people hard, especially those leaving care, who are far more likely to be managing on their own.
“By making travel completely free for those leaving care, we’re taking away one of the biggest everyday worries. It means those young people don’t have to think twice about getting to college, turning up for work, or attending a job interview because of the cost of transport.
“This is a promise I made in our regions Child Poverty Action Plan, and this is that promise being delivered, real help, making a real difference, right where it matters.”
The travel offer forms part of the Mayor's wider ambition to tackle child poverty and ensure transport is not a barrier to opportunity. By removing a significant regular expense, the scheme helps care-experienced young people build independence while improving access to education, skills development and employment opportunities.
Regional leaders say the initiative is about more than reducing travel costs. It is intended to strengthen social mobility, support mental wellbeing and ensure young people leaving care can fully participate in community life and economic activity.
The programme sits at the heart of the North East Child Poverty Action Plan and reflects the Mayor's commitment to delivering practical support that makes an immediate difference to people's lives.
Among those benefiting is Callum, who has received support from Newcastle City Council's Care Leaver Team. He described the impact the free travel card has had on his daily life and wellbeing:
“Personally for me, having a Pop card has been the most beneficial thing I own at the moment. Not only does it allow me to save money but it also allows me to be motivated to get out the house without being worried it will cost me.
“Because of that my mental heath has improved significantly and even when I’m down I can use the Pop card to go on a travel to clear my head.”
The extended scheme builds on a series of transport affordability measures introduced by the Mayor, including the Mayor's Fares initiative, which caps public transport fares at £1 for under-22s, alongside seasonal programmes such as Kids Go Free. These measures form part of a wider strategy to create a more accessible and affordable public transport network across the North East.
Image credit: iStock
