Bristol City of Sanctuary has been campaigning for asylum seekers to receive free bus travel. The charity is relying on donations to offer bus tickets that are often used for mandatory Home Office meetings, or to take young children to a creche.
Oxfordshire County Council is already piloting the scheme, helping asylum seekers to attend medical appointments and build confidence getting around the city by giving them free travel.
A Bus Grant given by the government to the West of England Combined Authority has this year been spent on supporting bus services, as well as the summer holidays Kids Go Free initiative.
Godwin said that her priorities for the coming year are “to maintain current services and, I hope, free bus travel for apprentices”.
However, in a letter addressed to the Home Secretary, Godwin urged Shabana Mahmood to consider providing bus tickets, through groups like City of Sanctuary, instead of using taxis to get people to essential appointments.