444 care leavers in Wandsworth to enjoy half-price bus and tram fares
Around 450 care leavers across Wandsworth will benefit from the Mayor’s new concession fare for 18-25 year olds who have left care.
The Mayor’s ‘fare deal for care leavers’ will give 444 young people the helping hand they need as they transition to independent living. The concession provides a 50% discount on buses and trams will come into effect in 2024.
There are 16,250 care-experienced young people residing in London, many of whom struggle to access education or work as they leave the care system.
Leonie Cooper urged care leavers to sign up for the scheme before it goes live in early 2024.
London has the highest number of care leavers between 18 and 25 in the country, despite the higher costs of living in the capital. Transitioning to living independently can be huge challenge for care leavers, with many suffering from financial vulnerability, isolation and loneliness.
These challenges mean that care leavers often have worse life outcomes than those who haven’t lived in care, with almost 1 in 3 not in education, employment or training at age 21, compared with 2.4% of the general population.[1] Research by Barnardo’s has found that the costs of travel can often feel like a luxury, preventing many from education, seeking a job, accessing medical appointments or finding ways to tackle loneliness or isolation.[2]
Leonie Cooper, London Assembly Member for Merton and Wandsworth said:
“I am continually impressed by the resilience shown by care leavers, who must face the challenge of moving into their own accommodation, getting work and starting adult life without the support and safety net often provided by family.
“Cheaper fares will help this care leavers to get into work or to get an education – as well as to avoid the isolation that can follow leaving care. I’d like to thank the Mayor of London for giving more young people the helping hand they need to thrive at a crucial period in their lives.
“I urge the 444 eligible residents of Wandsworth to sign up for this concession fare before it goes live in the new year.”
Notes to editors
Notes
- Leonie Cooper AM is the London Assembly Member for Merton and Wandsworth.
- Figures on the number of care leavers across London were taken from ‘17-21 year old care leavers in contact with the responsible authority - LA' for Aged 19 to 21 in London for 2023 and '22-25 year old care leavers in contact with the responsible authority - LA' for Aged 22, Aged 23, Aged 24 and Aged 25 in London for 2023, both Department for Education, 16th November 2023, accessed here
- London Assembly Labour has campaigned for the introduction of this fare category consistently. Transport Spokesperson Elly Baker’s questions to the Mayor regarding this concession can be found here.
- More information about the concession fare can be found here.
- The introduction of the concessionary fare for care leavers was a manifesto pledge from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. The 2021 Sadiq for London manifesto can be found here. It included “To help young Londoners get around the city, opening up access to education, skills and job opportunities, I have protected young people’s travel concessions despite the Tory Government threatening to take them away. I commit to maintain young people’s travel concessions and for care leavers who often need extra support with travel costs, I’ll ensure TfL introduces half-price travel.”