Funding has been approved for the continuation of the highly popular student bus pass for young people travelling from High Peak into Greater Manchester to go to college.
This initiative was launched by Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward at the start of the current academic year to enable students to access further education opportunities even when these are outside our area.
More than 10,000 free bus journeys have been made by 16 to 18-year-old students from High Peak Borough, thanks to a pioneering travel scheme launched earlier this year.
The initiative, a collaboration between the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and Derbyshire County Council, offers free bus travel to students commuting to Greater Manchester’s Further Education colleges.
Students access the scheme by presenting their Derbyshire b_line card alongside their college ID. The pilot programme includes five key bus routes:
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward welcomed the milestone, saying: “Reaching 10,000 free journeys is a fantastic achievement and shows the real difference this scheme is making to young people and their families in High Peak.
“Education should never be limited by geography or transport costs, and I’m proud that the new combined county authority is helping students access the opportunities they deserve.
“I also want to thank the campaigning parents whose persistence made this scheme a reality. Their determination ensured we acted to support these young people.”