The Welsh government has discontinued the Welcome Ticket scheme, which provided free public transportation to refugees. The initiative, which started in March 2022, has been seen as a helpful tool for those escaping from countries including Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. The government has asserted that it plans to introduce a replacement scheme in the future. The current initiative ends on 31st March.
Marius Ambara Kamna, who fled from Sierra Leone to Wales because of his sexuality, used the ticket when he arrived in Wales with almost nothing. He said, “Withdrawing the scheme would be a shame. Many people cannot afford tickets to move around.” He added, “It’s very helpful for everyone. You can jump on the bus and it’s totally free. I use it to go to school, I use it to visit friends, sometimes I go to visit people around Wales.” Kamna is worried about what the future holds after the final day of the ticket on Sunday, stating, “We definitely need to have a scheme or a ticket like that.”
Scrapping the scheme will negatively impact those seeking to integrate into society, according to Kirran Lochhead Strang, who works at Cardiff’s Oasic centre supporting refugees and asylum seekers. “It’s a really good way just to help them access services, to look for work, and just to go about the normal day-to-day things they need to do,” she said.
The Welsh government reported that about one million journeys have been taken using the Welcome Ticket in the two years since it was launched. It was funded by the Bus Emergency Scheme and then the Bus Transition Fund, both of which have ended. The government’s communication indicated that it is considering how to introduce a better scheme in the future.
Scrapping the service, even for a short period of time, would be detrimental, said Sioned Williams, Plaid Cymru’s spokeswoman on social justice. She added, “Actions do speak louder than words. If we say we’re going to be a nation of sanctuary then we have to use those tools and means that we have to be able to support that vision. This was a crucial part of that support.” The Welsh government declared that it intended “to establish a new phase which is sustainable and fit-for-purpose, ensuring our resources can be focused on those most in need.” An update is expected later in the summer
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