Demand for free bus travel for asylum seekers in Scotland
Faith leaders say the costs of transport can be crippling
The Church of Scotland is leading calls from faith groups for the Scottish Government to provide free bus passes for asylum seekers.
Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, is among 24 religious leaders who have signed a statement in support of a campaign spearheaded by The Maryhill Integration Network in Glasgow.
Free travel is already in place for people aged 5 – 11 and those over 60, and the Scottish Religious Leaders Forum says extending the scheme would be a humane, just and life changing response to help people who have experienced “unimaginable suffering”.
People who are going through the process of applying to the Home Office to recognise their refugee status are not allowed to work, and receive an allowance of around £40 per week.
READ MORE: Let us pay our way, says Glasgow asylum seeker
The Kirk says transport can be an insurmountable cost which severely limits their ability to access essential services like food, education, medical appointments and places of worship.
“We feel like prisoners”
Abiola, an asylum seeker from Nigeria who has lived in Glasgow for five years, said: “Having a bus pass would be of great benefit to me and other asylum seekers in so many ways, particularly for our mental health.”
“Our wellbeing would improve a lot and life would be easier because we are very restricted because tickets are very expensive and we are living on a tight budget.
“If I had a bus pass it would help me to move around more freely, accompany my son on the bus as he has a pass and when I am lonely I can go out and explore and take my mind off whatever I am thinking.
“The restrictions and limitations placed on asylum seekers make us feel like we are prisoners.”
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No money left for food
The Maryhill Integration Network (MIN) says the choice of buying a day bus ticket in Glasgow can leave a person seeking asylum with just over £1 for food and any other essentials that day – just enough to buy a carton of milk.
Pinar Aksu, Human Rights and Advocacy Coordinator at MIN, said: “Access to concessionary bus travel is viewed by us as a key social justice policy.
“We know it will move asylum seekers as a group so much closer to integration in our communities.”
MIN and a group called the Voices Network has lodged a new petition at the Scottish Parliament which calls on MSPs to urge the Scottish Government to extend the current Concessionary Travel Scheme to include all people seeking asylum in Scotland regardless of age.