The Travel Buddy Franchise

What is the Travel Buddy scheme?

Travel Buddy is a travel training scheme which upskills adults with learning disabilities to train their peers to become independent travellers. Our Trainers are paid employees who support trainees in building up their travel skills on public transport or by foot.

The franchise exists to create a network across the United Kingdom. It draws upon our extensive experience facilitating Travel Buddy and offers support to organisations running the new project.

How does it work?

Initial meeting

The Travel Buddy Coordinator meets up with the Travel Buddy Trainee to discuss the training and how it can best work for them!

Observed journey

The Travel Buddy Trainee is buddied up with a Travel Buddy Trainer. The Travel Buddy Coordinator joins them for their first journey together.

Training sessions

The Travel Buddy Trainer and Trainee meet regularly to practice a journey together until the Travel Buddy Trainee feels that they can travel confidently on their own!

Success

The Travel Buddy Trainer, Trainee and Coordinator travel together for a final assessment journey.

What are the benefits?

Provides a paid work opportunity

Our Travel Buddy Trainers are paid the Oxford Living Wage. Currently, only 5.1% of adults with a learning disability are in paid work (NHS Digital, 2021)

Helps to develop independence

“Now that Charlene has done the scheme, she can travel where she likes on her own, and the staff won’t need to go with her”
– Kathy, Support Staff

Increases wellbeing

“It’s nice to get other people out and enjoying travelling, doing things that they want to do”
– Pam, Travel Buddy Trainer

Saves money!

The Travel Buddy scheme saves individuals, families, supporters and the local authority money by removing the need to provide transport!

What does the Travel Buddy Franchise package include?

Everything you will need to implement this scheme, saving you time and money!

A full training day at the My Life My Choice Office, where you will get to meet some of our experienced Travel Buddy Trainers
Expert fundraising support from the MLMC Charity Coordinator, who has successfully secured over £500,000 for the Travel Buddy Scheme from funders such as the Motability Foundation and the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund.
An in-person visit from our team, supporting you to tailor the scheme to your organisation
The Travel Buddy Scheme handbook – This contains 10 years of expert knowledge, explaining everything you need to know about the scheme and how to run it!
Phone and email support for 3 months, plus quarterly peer support meetings
The Travel Buddy Scheme documents and templates, to support the implementation of the scheme. This includes recruitment resources, training materials and assessment tools.