Travel Buddies

The Travel Buddies trips aim to promote independence, support active lifestyles and help build confidence in using public transport. Each trip offers a supported, friendly environment where participants can try out using public transport, take part in a fun activity and enjoy socialising with others.

The trips showcase how local public transport can be used for everyday journeys, helping people become more confident and open to travelling independently. This not only encourages more active and healthy lifestyles but also helps to reduce social isolation.

For some, the trips can help support recovery following ill health or help them adapt to life changes. For people of working age, they may also highlight how public transport can support access to employment and training opportunities.

In addition, the project gathers feedback on the challenges people face when travelling without a car or with limited mobility. These insights will help shape future transport initiatives as funding becomes available.

To be eligible, participants must live in Fenland and not be receiving full time care. People living in sheltered accommodation or with visiting/drop in carers are also eligible.

For this age group, the project is aimed at encouraging use of local public transport to:

• help people live independently for longer
• support people with reduced mobility
• help people to access local services, groups and social activities.

To be eligible, participants must live in Fenland and not be receiving full time care. People living in sheltered accommodation or with visiting/drop in carers are also eligible.

For this age group, the project is aimed at people who may benefit from some support getting out and about or using local transport. This could be for getting back into work or training, recovering from health problems, managing mobility challenges, and generally helping with confidence or reducing loneliness and isolation.

Each Travel Buddies trip includes:

• A journey using public or community transport - helping participants experience local transport routes in a supported way
• A visit to a local destination or activity - these vary by trip and may include places such as a cinema, gardens, or community venues (with refreshments where possible)
• Friendly support and social opportunities - travel with others in a relaxed group setting
• Information and signposting - advice to help you continue using transport services independently in the future

All trips take place within the Fenland area or along the Hereward Rail Line, including stops such as Ely, central Peterborough, March, Manea, and Whittlesea.

Booking is simple. Email: transportandaccess@fenland.gov.uk or call: 01354 622318 (answerphone available - leave a message for a callback).

When booking, you'll be asked to provide your name, age, address, and telephone number.

You may also be asked about your mobility, care needs (if any), and current travel habits to help tailor support - but sharing this extra information is completely optional.

Personal information (such as name and address) will be held securely in line with Fenland District Council's Data Protection Policy (PDF, 223 KB).

Trip participants will be asked to complete a photo and media consent form. This gives permission for images, videos or words in context to be used to promote the Travel Buddies project and publicise Travel Buddies events - for example in local newspapers, magazines and other media such as websites, social media, information leaflets, electronic newsletters and presentations. Completing this form is entirely optional.

General information and insights into travel behaviour and accessibility needs ed through the project will be included (anonymously) in the project's annual report and used by Fenland District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council to inform future projects to support travel needs, should further funding become available. No information that could identify individual participants will be used in these reports.

The cost of transport for each trip is covered by the project's funding.

Depending on the trip location and activity, entry fees (where applicable) and refreshments (where possible) are also included. Details of any additional costs - such as optional purchases or activities - are provided in advance.

If your friend is aged over 40 and not receiving full-time care, they may be eligible for their own place on the trip.

If you need support to attend, a friend, relative, or carer aged 18 or over may be able to accompany you. This is considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on available space, and must be arranged in advance.

Please contact the Travel Buddies team to discuss on 01354 622318 (or email transportandaccess@fenland.gov.uk).

Currently, funding is available to provide one free Travel Buddies trip for each participant.

We are exploring the option of offering additional trips at a small cost. If this becomes available, previous participants will be contacted and given the opportunity to book extra places.

Travel Buddies is organised and delivered by Fenland District Council with support from FACT Community Transport and Greater Anglia.

The project is funded by Cambridgeshire County Council's Older Adult Social Care and Greater Anglia's Customer and Community Fund.

The project is currently funded to deliver a total of 8 Travel Buddies trips over 2 years. These are planned to take place as follows:

• 1 trip in March 2025
• 1 trip in June 2025
• 1 trip in September 2025
• 1 trip in October 2025
• 2 trips in November 2025
• 2 trips in 2026 (dates to be confirmed)

Destinations are decided nearer to the date of each trip to ensure it is suitable for everyone who is signed up to take part.

Please contact transportandaccess@fenland.gov.uk or 01354 622318 for details.

Trips for people aged over 40 is funded until November 2025 and trips for people aged over 65 is funded until December 2026.