A new safer travel campaign has been launched today (22 May) in Angus to give young people reliable guidance and information on how to make bus journeys safer and how to get help if needed.
Angus Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament collaborated with Angus Council’s Vibrant Communities and Transport teams, Police Scotland and Stagecoach developed the campaign which includes videos the young members made with tips, advice and an example of what happens when someone reports unacceptable behaviour on a bus journey to the police, posters that will go up around Angus and social media activity.
Angus Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament carried out an Angus Young Bus Passenger Survey after receiving concerns about public transport from constituents. Results from the survey showed young people did not feel safe while travelling on buses and 47% of young people would not know what to do if they felt unsafe on a bus. The outcome of the research was confirmed at the Angus wide 5 Ways to Wellbeing Youth Event in November 2022, which focused on identifying barriers and potential solutions young people face to looking after their health and wellbeing.
Hollie McIntosh, Angus Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament said: “Being part of this campaign has really opened my eyes to the barriers young people face to travelling on buses. We have heard your concerns loud and clear and that’s why we created the Safer Travel Angus Campaign.
“With the partners, we’ve developed resources such as a video and posters which can be accessed on the Angus Young Scot web pages. We want to raise awareness of the campaign by advertising far and wide!
“Youth led projects are the way to go for the future to meet the needs of young people in Angus, given the Partnership we formed has worked so well.”
Angus Council’s Convenor of Communities, Cllr Mark McDonald said: “This campaign has been entirely led by the needs of young people, with young people at the centre of developing and leading the campaign.
“No one should feel unsafe using public transport. Many young people don’t realise that some of the behaviours they’re experiencing while travelling are a crime and can be reported to the police, which is why it is so important we are raising awareness and helping them to report what’s happening to them.
“We hope to get this safety message out to as many young people and families as possible, in the hope of building the confidence of young people to travel and their ability to get help should they need to.”
You can find out more and view the campaign on the Young Scot Angus webpage.