Everyone Aboard: A campaign to extend free bus travel
About the campaign
We all want to live in a just and compassionate Scotland. But those whose finances have suffered most during the pandemic – people on low incomes and young people under 25 – risk being left behind.
When you’re living in poverty, unaffordable transport costs can mean your opportunities are restricted. It can mean making heart-breaking choices between paying an essential bill or visiting a loved one in hospital; between buying food or buying a bus ticket to a job interview. And it can mean being locked away from those human connections that have become even more important to us all.
Public transport is key to easing the financial pressures on low-income households, unlocking opportunities, and in bringing us all back together.
On the road to recovery, we can make sure everyone has a seat, by providing free bus travel to everyone receiving Universal Credit (and other low-income benefits) and to all young people under 25.
Join our day of action on 10th November
Reducing emissions from transport will be an essential part of tackling the climate crisis. During COP26, join our call to unlock bus travel for those who need it most. We can build a more just and green Scotland. Find out more by getting in contact with our Campaigns Officer, Alyson Laird, or download our template tweets and graphics here.
Campaign News
In the media: Over 120 leading organisations from across Scotland singed an open letter from Peter Kelly, Poverty Alliance Director, urging party leaders to support the Everyone Aboard campaign. Share the Daily Record article. For more information and to read the full letter text and list of signatories click here.
Our former Campaigns Officer, Suzi Murning, wrote a blog explaining why Scotland needs to extending free bus travel. "We all rely on public services – like health and education – to be there for us when we need them. But too often, they simply don’t work for people living on low incomes. But our transport system was designed, so it can be re-designed to work for everyone."
In a guest blog, Chloe Goodall, Head of Impact at Children’s University Scotland, explores the impact extending free bus travel to people on low-income benefits and under 25s would have on realising children’s rights.
In another guest blog, Mollie McGoran MSYP explains why the Scottish Youth Parliament support the #EveryoneAboard campaign to extend free bus travel to under 25s and those on low-income benefits.
Take Action
Write to MSPs
Write to your constituency or regional MSP asking them to pledge their support for the campaign by downloading our template Letter to MSPs. You can find your MSPs here.
When you've emailed your MSP, encourage others to do this same by posting this graphic and linking to povertyalliance.org/everyoneaboard.
Show your support on social media
Help us build a powerful campaign by posting your support on social media. Download all our campaign graphics and template tweets here. Please tag us @PovertyAlliance and use #EveryoneAboard!
Become an official supporter
Would you like to join over 40 leading organisations in Scotland in becoming an official partner or supporter? Get in touch with suzi.murning@povertyalliance.org. We'd love to have you aboard!
What our partners Say
The Everyone Aboard campaign is supported by leading anti-poverty organisations, children's charities, trade unions, faith groups, and environmental organisations. Here's why our partners support the campaign.
Enter your email address to receive regular e-updates about our work. If at any time you want to stop receiving these, simply contact us. We’ll keep your details safe and won’t share them with any other organisations for their marketing purposes. For full details see our Privacy Policy.