![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_IDG_20251216_072132_278.jpg\")
Why 8,000 children in Greater Manchester are forced to make these \u2018stressful\u2019 journeys(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\nThe journeys will give children resilience, in all likelihood, but it won’t give them the right frame of mind to learn. Ethan Davies reports on what 8,000 young people might have to go through – and tells you what you can do to make it better<\/p>\n
06:28, 02 Jan 2026Updated 08:48, 02 Jan 2026<\/p>\n
Why 8,000 children in Greater Manchester are forced to make these \u2018stressful\u2019 journeys(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n
It\u2019s only six miles from Stretford to Harpurhey. But for Tosin Balogun and her two children, it was a 65-minute trip on two buses they had \u2018no option\u2019 but to make.<\/p>\n
Three years ago, the family were turfed out of their Gorton<\/a> home \u2018the landlord said he could not fix unless\u2019, 42-year-old Tosin recalled, \u2018he gave us an eviction\u2019. The homeless family were temporarily housed by Manchester council in Stretford<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the time, Tosin\u2019s daughter was 15 and her son was 12, just starting secondary school. They have since moved much closer to the classroom after the Stretford commutes in 2022 caused \u2018stress\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cWe used to leave home at 6:30am to get to school for 8:15am,\u201d health care assistant Tosin recalled. \u201cSometimes the bus would be full and we would have to wait for another one.\u201d<\/p>\n The journey from Stretford took them to Piccadilly Gardens<\/a>, and they would then need to walk to Shudehill for a connecting bus. If everything went smoothly, the journey would take around an hour.<\/p>\n Why 8,000 children in Greater Manchester are forced to make these \u2018stressful\u2019 journeys<\/p>\n \u201cIt was stressful,\u201d Tosin sighed when recounting her experience. Despite their desperate circumstances, the Baloguns were ineligible for free transport to their school, Manchester Communication Academy, due to government guidelines.<\/p>\n Rules say children are only eligible for free transport to school if they live more than two miles from class, and there is no \u2018suitable school\u2019 nearer. But it\u2019s almost-impossible to be further than three miles from a school in Greater Manchester.<\/p>\n There are 8,000 children in temporary accommodation in the city-region. It means their parents face two options: Pay for buses, or move her children\u2019s school. Tosin chose to keep paying.<\/p>\n The Manchester Evening News believes the choice of moving their children\u2019s school or paying for buses is one no homeless parent should have to make.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why we have called on Andy Burnham<\/a> to introduce a free bus pass for children in temporary accommodation more than 30 minutes\u2019 walk from school, since August. It\u2019s a campaign backed by eight Greater Manchester MPs, including six from the mayor\u2019s Labour<\/a> Party, high-profile charities, and hundreds of residents who have signed our petition.<\/p>\n The situation is so severe that Manchester Communication Academy decided to start paying some homeless children\u2019s bus fares after hearing about the Baloguns. Somewhat ironically, they use a \u00a310,000 grant from the Greater Manchester Mayor\u2019s Charity, to pay for bus tickets, staff training, and packages for newly homeless families nearby.<\/p>\n Earlier this month (December 3), the mayor said he was \u2018sympathetic\u2019 to families like the Baloguns\u2019 plight. But he did not commit to introducing the passes.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cWhat might open the door is we are moving to a more interventionist space as a combined authority when we signed off using 400 empty properties to reduce the bill in temporary accommodation.<\/p>\n \u201cAs part of the support packages there\u2019s an opportunity to link the two. I cannot say more than that because we are in discussions over the budget which come to a head in January\u2026 we have a lot of things to consider. We are looking at all of it. I am sympathetic.\u201d<\/p>\n Stretford, before 7am, is cold in December. But it\u2019s not quiet, as traffic roars on the A56.<\/p>\n The 255 and 263 buses stop outside the Public Hall, and take about half an hour to reach town. The 263 winds its way through Hulme<\/a>, occasionally stopping to make up time, undoubtedly adding to anxiety about making the school bell.<\/p>\n Piccadilly Gardens, even at 7:30am, is still rowdy. Some people are shouting, the police are patrolling, and it can still smell of cannabis. Shudehill is a nicer environment, with plenty of buses heading along Rochdale<\/a> Road.<\/p>\n Pupils need to be at Manchester Communication Academy for 8:25am, but if they arrive before 8am, they\u2019re eligible for a free breakfast. That second bus needs to be on time for parents in Tosin\u2019s position to save some money.<\/p>\n The early start, sometimes chaotic commute, and anxiety about getting a free meal all mean that bus journey cannot put students in the right frame of mind when they get to school.<\/p>\n When pupils arrive at Manchester Communication Academy, they see several signs outlining what the school trust\u2019s values are, including \u2018grit\u2019.<\/p>\n One thing this journey is likely to give teenagers is grit. But if the Baloguns had to repeat this journey now, it would make at least \u00a35.33 poorer per day, if Tosin bought an \u00a380 adult and two \u00a340 child\u2019s monthly bus pass.<\/p>\n Tosin cannot remember how much she had to pay for the trips, but it was likely more as they undertook this odyssey before the Bee Network simplified tickets and brought in hopper fares.<\/p>\n While it is easier for families to afford the bus now, the fact remains Greater Manchester\u2019s homeless parents are being told to fork out \u00a340 every month, at least, just to do what\u2019s expected of them and keep their children in school.<\/p>\n To some, like Tosin, eight MPs, and several important charities, think that\u2019s a slap in the face. It\u2019s why the Manchester Evening News is calling on Andy Burnham to change things this Christmas<\/a>.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_IDG_20251216_073143_081.jpg\")
(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1_Kemi-Badenoch-Visits-Scene-Of-Manchester-Synagogue-Terror-Attack.jpg\")
(Image: Getty Images)The dark, cold journey<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_IDG_20251216_075447_456.jpg\")
(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n