The bus pass scheme was started in 2007 when it was felt that asylum seekers who were placed with hosts staying miles out of the city centre should be able to travel and visit their friends to avoid being lonely or feel isolated. There was also a need to respond to mobility issues faced by the very sick, disabled, pregnant, and women with babies. The price of an off-peak ticket back then was £10.50 and and Assist paid £5.50 towards the cost of the ticket per client. Those who wanted a bus pass were asked to pay £5 out of their £20 weekly grant.
We were inundated with request for travel tickets which many referred to as the £5 weekly ticket. Many of the people who asked for the tickets were asylum seekers still on government support and some refugees. It took a lot of explaining that the tickets were reserved for Asylum seekers on Assist support who were really hard up.
Criteria for getting travel tickets
- You must be getting support from Assist
- You have a letter from the doctor explaining that you have mobility issues
- You live at least 3miles outside Sheffield City Centre
- You are a woman in her late stages of pregnancy
The full cost of weekly ticket as of January 2009 is £14.75 Assist will pay £4.75 and asylum seekers who wants the ticket will pay £10.
The deal that was negotiated with South Yorkshire Travel Executive (SYPTE) only allows us to give out off-peak South Yorkshire travel master vouchers. We can not give any other tickets.