Children aged 15 and under will be able to travel free on participating bus services across Worcestershire for the month of August, the county council has confirmed. The initiative runs from 1 to 31 August and is funded by the Department for Transport as part of the Government’s Great British Summer Savings programme.
Who can travel and where
The offer covers young passengers up to and including the age of 15 on services that choose to take part. The county’s flexible Worcestershire on Demand service is included, meaning children can travel free on booked on-demand journeys within their local zone and to selected points of interest outside it.
| Eligibility | Dates |
|---|---|
| Children aged 15 and under | 1 August – 31 August |
How families use the scheme
Participation by operators is voluntary, so parents and carers should check before they travel. For the on-demand service, youngsters aged 11 to 15 travelling without an adult are asked to activate the concession via the app by accessing the concessions menu and switching on the 'Under 16 Free Travel Offer (August 26)' option.
- Plan ahead: check with the specific bus operator whether they are taking part.
- For on-demand bookings, ensure the concession option is enabled in the app.
- Carry proof of age if requested by the driver, especially for older children near the limit.
Practical impact across Worcestershire
The scheme is designed to ease the cost of travel during the school holidays and to encourage families to get out and about in the county. It should help with ordinary journeys, days out and visits to friends or local attractions where bus services operate. For some rural areas the on-demand service will be particularly useful because it can be booked for convenient pick-up and drop-off points where fixed routes are limited.
Residents are directed to the county council’s local bus information pages for the latest list of participating operators and any additional guidance: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/council-services/travel-and-highways/bus-travel-worcestershire/local-bus-information
Because the national scheme is optional for operators, the level of take-up may vary across the county. Families should check individual operator timetables and terms to avoid disappointment on the day.
