Wightlink Announces Free Travel For 16 And 17-Year-Olds As Part Of Young Person’s Travel Initiative

Two free foot passenger crossings will be offered for every young Island person in

training or sixth-form education as part of a ground-breaking range of travel benefits

announced by Wightlink to encourage career, education, training and leisure travel to

the mainland. 

Also included in the package are half-price travel for all school trips to the mainland,

journeys by young Island NEETS (not in employment, education or training) for travel

to mainland job interviews and a similar 50 percent discount for young people

attending open days at the University of Portsmouth.

The Isle of Wight Youth Trust will also be offered a number of free crossings to be

used at its discretion for the use of clients travelling to the mainland for further

support.

The steps have been announced as part of Wightlink’s ongoing work with local youth

organisations to raise aspirations by encouraging and facilitating young persons’

travel.

This work has included partnerships with five partner primary schools since 2019, a

strong relationship with the youth trust, support for numerous individuals and youth

groups through the Wightlink in the Community programme and recently, focus

groups with youth organisations to hear first-hand the issues young people faced

with mainland travel.

Wightlink chief executive Katy Taylor said:

“Through our ongoing dialogue with youth groups and young people, it is clear that more practical assistance would be welcomed to make it easier for young people to travel on and off the Island in pursuit or training, education and job-hunting or just so they can follow their cultural or sporting interests.

“We hope these new initiatives demonstrate our absolute commitment to helping young people broaden their horizons by exploring off-Island travel.

“It has been a wholly collaborative process and we’d like to thank the IW Youth Trust and those who took part in our focus groups for their assistance in putting together this package.

"We look forward to welcoming young people on board our ships as they take up the new opportunities to travel with us.”

Jo Dare, Isle of Wight Youth Trust chief executive, said:

“We are really pleased to have such a positive dialogue with Wightlink and are very impressed how readily our suggestions have been taken on board.

"These steps will have a hugely positive impact on the lives of hundreds of young people.”

The NEET travel will be administered through the Isle of Wight Youth Trust’s Youth Hub while schools have agreed to distribute the two free annual tickets to year 12 and 13 students for travel between Ryde and Portsmouth via the FastCat.

Any other organisation working with young people in further education or training who would like to discuss supported travel can contact Wightlink via the following short URL wight.link/youth or emailing marketingdepartment@wightlink.co.uk