A video has been created to help young people in Portsmouth feel confident to get around the city by bus, including those with visible and invisible disabilities like mental health issues and anxiety.
The council says it gives young people with disabilities an idea of what life is like and what to expect when travelling.
The video is a step-by-step guide on how to catch a bus in Portsmouth. It covers booking your ticket, hailing the bus, and the journey across the city.
The video has been made by the charity Enable Ability and Portsmouth City Council, in partnership with young people with disabilities.
To coincide with the launch of the video, Enable Ability are also putting on ‘Independent Travel Training’ during the summer break. The training will give young people a tailored and personalised approach to how they could travel from their home address to school using public transport. The training takes place over two, four-day sessions ranging in the period between 30 July to 13 August.
Richard Soutar, Enable Ability Manager said:
“This will greatly encourage young people to be more independent, increase their confidence, awareness and ability to manage money. We have been working hard in partnership with Portsmouth City Council to develop a coherent and robust travel training programme which is free for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.”
Councillor Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education said:
“From speaking to those with disabilities, we know that it can feel daunting to travel alone. The aim of this video is to give young people the confidence and freedom to travel around the city and ensure that they are as informed as possible.
“We’re thankful for all the work Enable Ability do to support people with disabilities in the city, and hope this video goes a long way in making young people’s travel experience stress free, as well as improving independence and confidence.”
Councillor Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport said:
“We know that being able to use the bus opens up opportunities for employment, healthcare, education and social activities, and we are serious about improving access to bus transport for everyone in Portsmouth.”
“Young people have told us about the challenges they face in getting on the bus, and we hope that this video will give people an idea of what to expect when taking the bus in the city and help people to travel more confidently.”
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