Damien Moore MP welcomes �3,119,118 of Conservative Government funding to extend the �2 bus fare cap across the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority area

MEMBER of Parliament for Southport, Damien Moore, has welcomed �3,119,118 of Conservative Government funding for bus companies and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to extend the �2 bus fare cap.

This news comes as part of a �500 million investment to freeze bus fares nationally and improve vital local routes; ensuring passengers can continue to 'Get Around for �2', while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sector. The Conservative Government is investing �200 million in extending the cap for single bus fares at �2 outside of London until October 2023, and then at �2.50, until 30 November 2024.

Although the initial cap announced at the start of this year was introduced as a temporary measure, the scheme has successfully encouraged many more people to use local bus services, benefitting local economies, supporting jobs, and helping passengers with the cost of living.

A further �300 million has been announced to protect routes and services that are relied on for work, education, medical appointments, and shopping. As part of this, local transport authorities will receive �160 million to improve fares, services, and infrastructure, while �140 million will directly support operators in protecting essential services.

Across the North West, journeys such as the Lancaster to Kendal bus route will be reduced from:- �14.50 to �2, meaning savings of 86% per trip.

Damien Moore, Member of Parliament for Southport, said:- "I am delighted the Conservative Government will be committing �500 million across the country, extending the �2 fare cap, and protecting and improving vital local routes across Southport. These links are crucial for our town, helping people to access work, education, shops, and appointments. The Government's commitment will help to keep costs down, as the Conservatives work to halve inflation, grow the economy, and reduce debt. Connectivity is also why I launched the campaign for the re-instatement of the Burscough Curves, linking Southport to Preston and Ormskirk with a direct rail line. I am continuing to meet with Ministers and other stakeholders to raise the important case for the lines re-instatement, and to ensure that my constituents get the connectivity they deserve."

Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper MP, said:- "Taking the bus is the most popular form of public transport and millions of people rely on these vital services every day. This half a billion pounds investment will help people save money amid cost of living pressures and continue to level up transport in all parts of the country, doing our bit to help halve inflation and grow the economy."

Teenagers and young adults often at "crisis point" amid a failure of support, new research from Adoption UK reveals

46% of families with adopted children aged:- 13 to 25 say they are at:- "crisis point" or "facing severe challenges" amid a lack of support according to new research from Adoption UK, the leading charity for those whose lives involve adoption. Parents of teens and young adults were twice as likely to say this than parents with younger children (23%).

For many adopted people, trauma experienced in early childhood, along with the loss of identity involved in being separated from their birth family, has lifelong implications for their wellbeing.  Problems build when adopted children do not get the right foundations and consistent support over time. Many of the normal challenges faced by teenagers, such as grappling with their identity, relationships and mental health, are greatly h8ened in children who have experienced trauma early in their lives. Only 9% of families with young adoptees aged 13+ are confident that services such as the NHS, education and housing have a good understanding of their children's needs. There is limited specialist support for the particular challenges faced by adopted teens, such as reconnecting with birth family.

58% of adopted young adults accessed or attempted to access mental health services in 2022, and 23% of adopted 16 to 25 year olds are not in education, employment or training (NEET), nearly double the UK average, the research also shows. In addition, 16% of 13�18 year olds have been drawn into criminally exploitative activity.

Adult adoptee Angela said:- "Growing up I was well provided for, but I've needed a lot of therapy. From the age of 8 or nine I felt alienated from my adoptive family. My parents didn't understand me at all and we didn't get any support. The family broke down and I sought out people who I thought approved of me. But I ended up involved in drugs, suffered abuse and was drawn into forced criminality. I had my 1st therapy at the age of 21 for lack of self esteem, self destructive behaviour and feeling emotionally empty. I've had to work hard not to repeat the patterns of behaviour from my childhood with my own kids. Now I work with exploited young people. I'm hurt, but grateful to be where I am today. Adopted children need the right support from the start and throughout their childhoods, including specialist support for teens."

Alexandra (not her real name) said:- "Our children were adopted as babies and whilst things were never straightforward, nothing prepared us for the teenage years. Poor mental health, problems with drugs and alcohol, criminal exploitation and difficulties accessing education and training have made for extreme and relentless challenges. Our children need robust support in place from the start, and Schools and all the professions that work alongside them need to be trained in trauma and attachment. Too often parents are not believed and when we try and advocate for better support, we are seen as annoying. We shouldn't have to fight for the help that our children need and deserve."

The figures come from Adoption UK's 5th Annual Adoption Barometer report, the most comprehensive stock take of adoption in the UK. It surveyed nearly 3,000 adoptive families, prospective adopters and adopted people over 18. The report offers a rich picture of the impact of adoption policy and practice in the lives of adopted people and adopters across the UK.   

Emily Frith, Chief Executive Officer of Adoption UK, said:- "This report shows that the challenges facing young adopted people remain as difficult as ever. It should be a wake-up call for Governments and adoption professionals across the UK. Most adopted children have a very tough start in life, and many require specialist, therapeutic support into adulthood. We're getting a lot of things right in the early stages of adoption, as shown in consistently positive feedback from adopters over five years of the Barometer. There is also good work underway by adoption agencies and charities to improve support for older children. But change is happening far too slowly, putting the futures of thousands of young people a year at risk. It's time for urgent action from Governments and the sector to give adopted people the support they have been calling for, for decades."  

Adoption UK is calling for:-

Multi disciplinary assessments for every child to be placed for adoption.
Support plans that lay the foundations for good support from the start, and adapt as the child grows.
Specialist adoption support services extended to at least age 26.
Trauma informed training and standards for health, education and criminal justice professionals, based on the latest neuroscience.
Lifelong, psychological support for adopted people, whenever it's needed.