📘 Easy Read: Travel Buddy Social Enterprise

 

🌟 What is Travel Buddy?

• Travel Buddy was an idea made by people with learning disabilities.

• The plan was to help people travel safely and learn to be independent.

• Trained adults with learning disabilities would be paid to work as “Travel Buddies.”

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✅ Why is it Important?

• 🚍 Transport can be hard for people with learning disabilities.

• Some have to use special buses, which take a long time and don’t help with independence.

• A Travel Buddy could help people use public transport safely and with confidence.

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💡 How it Helps

• 👍 More confidence using buses and trains.

• 🚶 More independence – travel on your own in the future.

• 👥 Meet people and take part in community life.

• 💼 Paid jobs for people with learning disabilities.

• 💪 Show the world what people with disabilities can do, not what they can’t.

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🌍 Bigger Picture

• ❌ Special buses can be slow and stop people learning independence.

• 🚗 Travel problems can cause people to be late for work.

• 💼 “Our Shout” group wanted to create fair and inclusive jobs.

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🔮 Future Plans

• “Our Shout” wanted to link with “Access All Areas Now!” for training and growth.

• They wanted to teach life skills, not just travel.

• They wanted to work with employers and challenge bad attitudes.

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⚠️ What Happened

• Sadly, Travel Buddy did not happen because the government cut Mencap’s funding in 2011.

• Later, the government talked about “Valuing Employment Now” – a plan to help people with disabilities find real jobs.

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❓ Quiz Questions (Easy Read)

1. What was the Travel Buddy idea about?
   a) Helping people with learning disabilities travel
   b) Making new buses for everyone
   c) Teaching maths in school

2. Who were the Travel Buddies?
   a) Teachers
   b) Trained adults with learning disabilities
   c) Bus drivers

3. What were the key benefits? (choose two)
   a) More independence
   b) Longer waiting times
   c) Paid jobs for people with learning disabilities

4. Why did Travel Buddy not happen?
   a) People did not like the idea
   b) No one wanted to join
   c) Government funding was cut

5. What is “Valuing Employment Now”?
   a) A TV show
   b) A government plan to help people with disabilities get jobs
   c) A bus company