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.
For more information about Adoption UK and how you can get involved, please visit:- AdoptionUK.Org.UK.
