Empowering Young People to Travel Independently and Connect with Their Community
What is Seekers Social Travel Club?
Seekers Social Travel Club is an exciting new initiative designed to help young people—especially those with additional needs—gain the skills and confidence to navigate public transport independently. In partnership with SEND Faces, we are co-creating engaging resources and real-world experiences that empower young people to connect with their city, access cultural spaces, and build lifelong independence.
Seekers Social Travel Club is an exciting new initiative designed to help young people—especially those with additional needs—gain the skills and confidence to navigate public transport independently. In partnership with SEND Faces, we are co-creating engaging resources and real-world experiences that empower young people to connect with their city, access cultural spaces, and build lifelong independence.
Through this project, we are:
- Training young people to use public buses instead of relying on minibuses.
- Creating a network of safe spaces across Portsmouth, including museums, libraries, and community centres..
- Ensuring cultural landmarks are welcoming by co-developing resources with young people.
- Fostering sustainability and independence by reducing reliance on council-funded transport.
Why This Matters
Many young people with additional needs rely on costly school transport services, which limits their ability to explore their city independently. By equipping them with travel skills and safe destinations, we not only build their confidence but also help reduce transport costs for the council.
Many young people with additional needs rely on costly school transport services, which limits their ability to explore their city independently. By equipping them with travel skills and safe destinations, we not only build their confidence but also help reduce transport costs for the council.
The Impact
- Increased independence – Young people gain the confidence to travel safely on their own.
- Stronger community connections – Access to museums, libraries, and social hubs fosters belonging.
- Significant cost savings – Transitioning to public transport could save over £98,000 per year.
- Sustainable habits – Reducing reliance on taxis and minibuses lowers the environmental impact.
How It Works
1. Active Travel Training
We work with local schools, to deliver hands-on public transport training. Young people learn to:
Read bus maps and timetables
Identify safe stops and travel routes
Manage their time effectively
Handle challenges and seek help if needed
We work with local schools, to deliver hands-on public transport training. Young people learn to:
Read bus maps and timetables
Identify safe stops and travel routes
Manage their time effectively
Handle challenges and seek help if needed
2. Safe Spaces & Cultural Connections
We are establishing a network of safe places across Portsmouth, where young people can go if they feel overwhelmed or need support. These include:
Museums | Libraries | Community centres |
To make these spaces more welcoming, young people co-create museum guides and educational resources. For example, for the Ancient Sudan exhibit, they developed materials to help others feel comfortable and engaged during visits.
We are establishing a network of safe places across Portsmouth, where young people can go if they feel overwhelmed or need support. These include:
Museums | Libraries | Community centres |
To make these spaces more welcoming, young people co-create museum guides and educational resources. For example, for the Ancient Sudan exhibit, they developed materials to help others feel comfortable and engaged during visits.
3. Celebrating Milestones & Achievements
Each young person’s journey is unique. Through Seekers Social Travel Club, we celebrate important milestones, like:
Completing their first independent bus journey
Contributing to a cultural resource
Discovering a new part of their city
Each young person’s journey is unique. Through Seekers Social Travel Club, we celebrate important milestones, like:
Completing their first independent bus journey
Contributing to a cultural resource
Discovering a new part of their city
4. Community & Family Support
We link our travel training and safe spaces with local family hubs and community programs to ensure that:
Young people know where to find low-cost or free meals on their routes.
Families and community members understand and support their journeys.
Travel is seen as a positive, empowering experience rather than a challenge.
We link our travel training and safe spaces with local family hubs and community programs to ensure that:
Young people know where to find low-cost or free meals on their routes.
Families and community members understand and support their journeys.
Travel is seen as a positive, empowering experience rather than a challenge.
The Bigger Picture
The number of students needing transport has increased significantly due to SEND reforms, making this project more important than ever.
If just 30% of young people transition to public transport, we could save:
£98,220 per year – Money that can be reinvested into vital services.
This project supports Portsmouth’s commitment to sustainability, social inclusion, and cost-effective solutions.
If just 30% of young people transition to public transport, we could save:
£98,220 per year – Money that can be reinvested into vital services.
This project supports Portsmouth’s commitment to sustainability, social inclusion, and cost-effective solutions.
Join Us on the Journey!
Seekers Social Travel Club is just getting started, and we’d love for you to be part of it. Whether you’re a young person, parent, educator, or community member, you can help shape this movement.
- Get Involved – Help co-create resources or share your experiences.
- Explore the City – Use our maps to discover safe spaces and cultural landmarks.
- Spread the Word – Let’s build a community that supports independent travel!
Exploring Digital Mapping with Lucas at Seekers Social Travel Club07/05/25 Today at Seekers Social Travel Club, we had an amazing time learning how to create digital maps—and Lucas was right at the heart of it all!
We started by talking about easy routes—paths that are fun, safe, and simple to follow. Lucas chose where he wanted to go, and together we mapped out the route from the very beginning (starting at home!), to setting off in the car, all the way to the final destination. Step by step, we built his personal “easy path” using a digital mapping tools on my phone. Once the map was ready, we uploaded it to the Seekers website, adding all the places Lucas wanted to visit and the things he wanted to do. His dad even created one too, and Lucas helped turn that into a digital version as well! It was a fun, hands-on learning experience, and Lucas worked incredibly hard. When asked if he’d like to do more, his answer was a big yes! His favourite part? “It’s a cool space for exploring—and there are loads of other exciting things here too!” |
Thank you, Lucas, for your energy, curiosity, and creativity. You’ve been a brilliant digital explorer today!
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