Best Community Campaign
Free Bus Travel Campaign
@Maryhill_IN @VOICESNetworkUK
Members of MIN Voices and The Voices Network with MSP Paul Sweeney, ahead of the debate held in Scottish Parliament on 26th October 2023.
The #FreeBusTravel campaign raised awareness of the transformational impact that access to free bus travel would have for people in the asylum system in Scotland. This led to the development of a new scheme due to be rolled out across the country in 2024.
The Campaign
Maryhill Integration Network’s (MIN) Voices peer-support and advocacy group, set up the Free Bus Travel campaign, alongside the Voices Network (part of the British Red Cross) and with support from Paul Sweeney MSP.
The campaign was launched with a series of short campaign videos and an information leaflet, both highlighting the positive impact that free bus travel would have on the community.
A petition was launched at the Scottish Parliament, for which MIN sought the support of MSPs. They also organised a meeting at the Cross-Party Group on Migration and attended a members debate at the Scottish Parliament led by Paul Sweeney.
As support for the campaign grew, partners from across different sectors began to increase awareness of the campaign, with many providing statements of support, including: Scottish Refugee Council, JustRight Scotland, Grampian Regional Equality Council, Community Transport Association, Scottish Action for Refugees, Mental Health Foundation and the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.
Campaign picture with members of Maryhill Integration Network
We are truly delighted to be shortlisted with our campaign. It has been a long journey to get some form of bus travel for people seeking asylum in Scotland. This recognition is for everyone who tirelessly campaigned for this significant change and raising awareness.”
Campaign picture with members of Maryhill Integration Network
We are truly delighted to be shortlisted with our campaign. It has been a long journey to get some form of bus travel for people seeking asylum in Scotland. This recognition is for everyone who tirelessly campaigned for this significant change and raising awareness.”
The Change
People with experience of the UK asylum system have been at the centre of the campaign – speaking publicly sharing stories, advocating, and voicing their concerns to journalists. This made a huge impact on the way the campaign was received and how it gathered momentum through partnership support and media attention.
By working cross-party, and across sectors, the campaign demonstrated widespread support, and created further evidence of its need and the positive changes it would make to the wellbeing and rights of people in the asylum process.
In November 2023, the Scottish Green Party announced its support for the campaign by securing £2 million from the Scottish Government to set up a temporary scheme to provide people seeking asylum access to some form of free bus travel.
The Future
As the temporary bus travel scheme is planned and negotiated, MIN and its partners will continue to work with the Scottish Government to explore how it can be part of the concessionary travel scheme and extended in the long term. The current scheme, it is hoped, will create further change within the Scottish Government’s transport and equalities units and pave the way for longer-term social investment in fairer treatment of people in the asylum process.
Who else was involved?
Scottish Refugee Council, JustRight Scotland, Grampian Regional Equality Council, Friends of Scottish Settlers, Community Transport Association, Scottish Action for Refugees
