From Adrian Lane, Exeter 383262, January 11, 2008

DEVON County Council will launch its independent travel training initiative at Southbrook College in Exeter on Wednesday (16 January).

The scheme is being set up to help young people to learn how to develop the skills for safe independent travel, working with the child's school or college. Southbrook College has agreed to pilot the project in Devon, assisting children with special needs to access public transport. The eventual aim is for the scheme to roll out to all schools across the county.

Training is carried out on a one-to-one basis or in small groups and the scheme is flexible to the needs of each pupil. Parents are consulted on the training and are given regular updates on how their child is doing.

Children will learn road safety, money skills, how to tell the time and read timetables, and what to do in an emergency. Before a child is allowed to travel on their own, it has to be agreed that they are able to do so safely and a thorough risk assessment is completed.

Councillor John Smith, Devon County Council Executive Member for Children and Young People's Services, said: "The skills the children will learn are vitally important for their self-confidence and they are tools that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Once they have learnt how to travel alone on public transport or by cycling to school, it will make it easier for them to make new friends or to travel independently in their free time to cinemas, leisure centres and to work once they have finished their education."

Councillor Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council Executive Member for Environment, said: "Accessing public transport is taken for granted by many of us, but for younger people it can be a daunting prospect. This scheme will give many pupils their independence to use public transport when they want and provide them with the freedom of having a choice rather than having to rely on assisted transport. As well as providing valuable life-skills, it is also helping the younger generation use alternatives to the car and by using sustainable transport they can make Devon even greener."

Devon County Council is working in partnership with the Teignbridge Fullfilling Lives team and its Travel Trainer who has already successfully trained adults with special needs to use public transport to access their community based services.

Southbrook College Principal Hilary Green said: "This is a wonderful opportunity to reinforce and build on the skills taught in the Personal, Social and Health Education and Citizenship curriculum. Many of the pupils at Southbrook lack the confidence and self-esteem to undertake the responsibility for independent travel and this initiative will support further development of these life-skills."

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Councillor for St Loyes and Topsham, said: "I am particularly pleased that Southbrook College has agreed to pilot this exciting and much needed project. It will certainly greatly assist the students of the college, and indeed all pupils across the County when it is rolled out. It's a very worthwhile initiative."

Parents who would like their child to take part in the scheme, which is free to pupils eligible for transport, should contact their school or college. Or for more information visit: www.devon.gov.uk/independenttravel

The Department of Transport has also recently commissioned a review of travel training schemes in England, which is available on its website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/

Notes for Editors:

Media representatives are invited to a photo/filming opportunity at Southbrook College at 9:30am on Wednesday 16 January. A Stagecoach bus will be parked in the school grounds.

For more information contact the Media PR Office on 01392 383262 or 01392 383578.

Councillor John Smith, 01626 772223.

Councillor Margaret Rogers, 01297 680384.

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, 07768 328164.