Earlier this month, young people from the Portsmouth Teenage Project took part in an activity at Exploria in Southsea as part of our ongoing independent travel training programme.
While the destination was a soft play and activity park, the session was about much more than climbing, jumping and having fun. It provided an opportunity for young people to practise travelling independently, build confidence using public transport and develop skills that can support greater independence in everyday life.
For young people with SEND, learning to travel independently can take time, it is not simply about knowing which bus to catch. It can involve understanding timetables, finding the correct bus stop, recognising when to get off, communicating with others, staying safe near roads and dealing with unexpected situations. Our approach is therefore to introduce these skills through real experiences, rather than simply teaching them in a classroom.
Learning Through Real Experiences
The Exploria session gave young people the opportunity to travel to a familiar destination in a structured and supported way, before enjoying 60 minutes of play and bounce. Staff supported young people throughout the journey, helping them develop practical skills while allowing them to take increasing responsibility for their own travel.
These experiences can be particularly valuable for young people approaching the transition to college and adulthood. Building confidence earlier means there is more time to practise, make mistakes safely and develop routines before greater independence is expected.
The activities themselves are an important part of this approach. By giving young people a reason to travel somewhere they want to visit, travel training becomes meaningful. It is the bridge that allows someone to access activities, education, friendships and the wider community.
Independence Doesn’t Stop at 17
This same principle is at the heart of the independent travel training work delivered through our Over 25 Social & Co-production Group. Earlier this month, members of the group took part in an independent travel training session to Toby Carvery.
The objectives were the same: supporting people to develop confidence, practise using public transport and build the skills needed to access community venues more independently.
For adults with disabilities, independent travel can open up opportunities that extend far beyond a single social activity. Being able to travel to a restaurant, workplace, community group, college or leisure activity can make a significant difference to someone’s ability to participate in their local community.
Our Over 25 group already brings people together regularly through social activities and co-production work. Incorporating travel training into these activities provides another opportunity to develop practical skills while doing something enjoyable.
Making Portsmouth More Accessible
There is also a wider message behind this work, independence is not about expecting everyone to do everything completely on their own. It is about providing the right support, at the right time, so people can gradually develop the confidence and skills to do more for themselves. For some participants, that might mean travelling with a member of staff, for others, it could eventually mean travelling with a friend, family member or independently.
The destination might be Exploria or Toby Carvery, but the longer-term destination is greater choice and independence. By using real bus journeys and real community venues, participants can practise skills in the environments where they will actually need them. They can learn how to navigate unfamiliar situations, communicate with drivers and members of the public, manage their belongings and respond when something doesn’t go according to plan.
These are everyday skills, but they can make a world of difference.
Looking Ahead
Our independent travel training programme is continuing to develop across both our young people’s and adult provision.
For the Portsmouth Teenage Project, the focus is on introducing these skills at an earlier stage, particularly for young people approaching the transition to post-16 education. For the Over 25 Social & Co-production Group, the focus remains on supporting adults with disabilities to participate more independently in their communities.
Both programmes are built around the same simple idea, people should have the opportunity to access their community, and travel should not be a barrier to doing so. Whether that means catching a bus to an activity with friends, travelling to college, meeting others for a meal or simply becoming more confident navigating Portsmouth, every journey provides another opportunity to learn.
And sometimes, independence starts with something as simple as knowing which bus to catch.
