A total of £303,737 has been granted to young people through a new grant scheme to help pay for travel to access education and training.
This equates to a total daily commute of 18,700 miles for all the individual students supported by the scheme – further than travelling from Westmorland and Furness to the Falkland Islands and back.
There were 515 individual grants made from Westmorland and Furness Council's 16 to 19 Education Travel Bursary Fund for this academic year, as well support for Alston Moor Federation to continue to provide affordable, subsidised bus transport for students to attend sixth form at New College, Durham. This is done via a transport service from Alston, collecting young people from Nenthead and along Weardale each day.
Qualifications supported that young people are studying for include A Levels , BTECs, Diplomas, T Levels and Degrees.
Subjects studied include agriculture, engineering, health and social care, English, maths, biology, chemistry and law, across 42 schools and colleges.
The fund, which is not means tested, is aimed at supporting young people in Westmorland and Furness to pay for transport for educational purposes – whether that be bus, train, taxis, fuel costs for private transport or even students who travel by bicycle – ensuring travel costs are not a barrier to young people achieving their potential.
Feedback from one family about the positive impact of the scheme said: "I had been trying for a while to purchase a pre-owned bike for my son via social media but always just missed out. We were granted £400, and we then went and purchased a decent bike along with a lock and lights."
Another said: It has taken a massive financial burden off of our shoulders. We were worrying how we were going to fund our son's travel to college every day in Kendal, but having the bursary has meant that we didn't need to worry. It's helped us massively and we are so grateful."
Another said: "Big impact, whilst my wife and I are both in full time work and our combined wages mean we are not eligible for any form of grants across multiple channels, the cost of living is very high and sending our daughter via bus to Kendal College was going to cost approx £700-£800 for the year.”
Councillor John Murray, Cabinet Member for Transport and Regulatory Services, said: "I am delighted that Westmorland and Furness Council has been able to support so many young people and their families in this way. These grants are having a positive and life-changing impact on the prospects and life chances of young people, especially those living in more remote areas, and supporting travel infrastructure, as well as promoting low carbon and active travel solutions to help reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality."
Whilst the 2024/25 Education Travel Bursary is now closed for 2024/25, other travel support is available from Westmorland and Furness Council.
If you are under 19 years of age on 1 September 2024, come from a low-income family or have special educational needs and you are studying a full-time course (a minimum of 17 hours per week), you may be eligible for free Post 16 (low income) transport.
This is available to students in full-time education, who live over three miles from their catchment sixth form or nearest college offering the vocational area they are studying and whose parent or carer is on one of a range of benefits.
Click here for more information about support available to students in full-time education.
The A2B Now card – a reduced fare bus travel card for five-20-year-olds living in Westmorland and Furness outside school travel times – is also available for young people to help them access leisure, sports, social participation and culture. Residents aged between five and 20 years old can apply for the pass, which costs £10 per year.
It is valid on local bus services within Westmorland and Furness and entitles holders to bus travel for £1.80 (single) and £3 (return). If the normal fare is less than this, travellers will pay the normal fare.
Application forms for the A2B Now card are available at all libraries or can be downloaded from the Westmorland and Furness Council website.
Click here for more information about the A2B Now card or to download and application form.
Details of the 2025-26 Education Travel Bursary Scheme will be available via the council’s website before the close of the current school year.