FREE bus travel for Barnsley’s under-18s was approved at a meeting this week.
The scheme, which was first mooted in January, will be be available to anyone living in the town aged five to 18.
Young people will be able to access free bus travel from Monday to Sunday, between 7am and 9pm, as long as the journey starts or ends in the Barnsley area and is within South Yorkshire.
On Wednesday, cabinet bosses approved the scheme which the council has set aside £5m for, with an additional funding pot of up to £1m from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. It will go live at the start of August.
Commenting, Wombwell councillors Brenda Eastwood, Robert Frost and James Higginbottom said: “We are delighted that as part of Barnsley Labour’s balanced budget for 2025/26 there is funding set aside to provide free bus fares for Barnsley youngsters from August.
“This will enable local kids to access vital education and leisure opportunities.
“It will also make a huge difference to finances, putting more money in the pockets of local families.
“For example, a family with two children will save almost £800 per year in school bus fares alone.
“We’re looking forward to seeing this scheme rolled out for the start of the summer holidays and local families feeling the benefit.”
