Getting the Message Over to Younger Disabled People.

Being able to get around independently makes a big difference to people’s lives. This is particularly true for young people, including those who are still at school. Better accessibility on mainstream bus services has improved opportunities for many young people but for others, with more complex needs, this simply isn’t an option.

Because it is a door to door bus service, using fully accessible minibuses and appropriately trained and experienced drivers, Ring and Ride ensures that young people are able to travel safely and securely both independently and with a friend, carer or parent.

To get this message over, wmsnt is putting together a promotions pack aimed specifically at younger people and their families/carers to highlight how the service can benefit them.

Victoria, one of the four schools taking part in wmsnt’s Ring & Go project, like all schools for young people with specific educational needs, works hard to enable its pupils to reach their potential as part of their personal development. But as Victoria school's Head Teacher, Jim Kane, explains, enabling young people with a range complex needs to get around independently is a big challenge. “Improved bus design and greater awareness amongst mainstream bus operators has helped some young people, having had the necessary training, to travel independently. However, for a number of reasons, for most of our pupils, this is not an option and consequently they are seriously disadvantaged in terms of being able to interact socially and get involved in activities outside school. This becomes more of an issue when they leave school and want to go on to further education, training or employment, as well as simply enjoying a social life. Ring and Ride provides a real solution for young people and we will work with wmsnt to raise awareness of the Ring and Ride service amongst our pupils and their families”.

A number of clubs meet at Victoria school during the evening and many of their members use Ring and Ride. The Wednesday Club, whose members range from 19 and over, meet to socialise and organise outings and activities at other venues.

We met up with Samantha and Stuart who are both Ring and Ride passengers. Samantha was a pupil at Victoria school before moving on to Wilson Stuart when she was 11, leaving at 19 to go to college. Samantha who is now 21, explained: “I learnt about Ring and Ride from their website and I began using it to get to the Wednesday club. I now want to start using it to get to other places to develop other interests”.

Stuart also attended Victoria school before leaving at 19, again to attend college. Now 24, he explained: “Ring and Ride brings me to the club each week to meet up and spend some time with friends”. Both Samantha and Stuart enjoy the support that the driver is able to provide and are confident that he will ensure that they will get to their destination safely.

Victoria School & Specialist Arts College also runs the Early Club for children between the ages of 11 and 19 years old. The club meets at the school every Wednesday evening and they engage in activities such as Art, Craft and Drama. Ring and Ride will enable them to go further afield and expand the activities.

The main aim of wmsnt’s support is to allow young people to better integrate within the community at large, visiting other centres and other leisure activities such as bowling and trips to McDonalds. The Ring & Go pilot scheme during school holidays, is part of a bigger campaign currently being put together to raise awareness amongst younger disabled people and their parents/carers about how the service can help them get about independently and safely. The campaign is aimed at showing that young people can travel on any day, not just during school holidays, at time and to places they want to get to.

For more information contact Duncan Ashlee or Des Rogers by calling 0121 327 8128 or Email: enquiries@wmsnt.org