Independent Travel Training

In Barnsley, we’re committed to helping everyone enjoy life in good physical and mental health. Independent Travel Training can help you develop the skills you need to get around our borough on your own safely.

Whether you’re looking to travel to school, college, work, health appointments or access local support in your community, you may benefit from travel training if you:

• are an adult with a learning or physical disability.
• have a sensory impairment.
• are a young person with special educational needs.
• have mental health issues.

We'll assess your circumstances to see if you qualify for help. See our get a social care assessment webpage for details about this.

How does travel training work?

We'll work with you to find out what support you need to travel around on your own. Our travel enablers will meet with you and other people in your support circle. They'll ask about your needs and your experiences of travelling, such as public transport.

Once we know more about the kind of support you need, we’ll arrange a practical assessment with you. We’ll look at the things that will enable you to travel around confidently and safely.  These might include physical, mobility or other personal challenges that prevent you from getting around our borough.

We’ll then match you with a suitable ‘travel enabler’ from our team of travel trainers. We’ll also work with you to plan routes for the places that you want to travel to.

We’ll consider using public transport, walking, crossing roads and more. We can also produce these documents in an easy read format to make them more accessible for your needs.

To help you, we’ll use things like flip-over books and pictures showing the routes by landmarks. We’ll also give you a help card with emergency contact numbers in case you need them.

Our plans will always be tailored to your needs, and in a format that you can understand. We'll also complete a risk assessment to eliminate or reduce as much risk as possible.

How to apply

You can apply for Independent Travel Training if:

• you need help to travel independently for the first time
• you've lost the skills and confidence to travel on public transport

You can apply yourself or ask a professional to help you, such as your social worker or your teacher. You'll need to email the completed application form to independenttraveltraining@barnsley.gov.uk.

For more details about independent travel training and how it can help you, please email independenttraveltraining@barnsley.gov.uk.

What our service users say

• "I used to go everywhere in a taxi - it cost a lot of money. Working with Independent Travel Training and becoming an independent traveller on public transport has saved me pounds."
  
  
• "Independent Travel Training taught me how to use my mobile phone. If there's a problem when I'm out I can easily contact someone."
  
  
• "I'm proud of how far I've come. Without the support of Independent Travel Training I'd be stuck in the house. Now I have a job and Independent Travel Training has helped me regain my independence." 
  
  
• “I’m going to meet a friend on Friday and I’m really looking forward to it. I don’t have to rely on anyone taking me or going with me.”