Projects

Return to main projects page

TravelSafe 'Overview'

 

 

TravelSafe is a partnership made up of the Community Rail Partnership; the Islands transport providers, education and Police that was formed in January 2007 to address specific problems on public transport.  The aims of the TravelSafe Partnership are to;

  • Reduce anti-social behaviour
  • To combat bullying and provide information for young people
  • Reducing crime and the fear of crime
  • Promote safe responsible travel
  • To promote the benefits of Public transport
  • Reduce congestion and thus our carbon footprint.

The partnership has adopted a multi agency approach to ensure TravelSafe’s success and to date the Partnership has;

  • Held a consultation at Sandown High School for young people to attend and feed back to TravelSafe partner’s problems they encountered using public transport. The young people also had an opportunity to say what measures they would like to see in place to improve their transport experience. .
  • Encouraged high schools to work in partnership with their middle feeder schools to set up TravelSafe working groups. This enables pupils of mixed ages and abilities to take further ownership over daily issues they face travelling.  Successful travel user groups have been set up in Carisbrooke High School and Sandown High School. These groups have been running for over 12 months and to date have received a very positive response.
  • Facilitated a project for 13 young people from Sandown High School to produce a poster and leaflet campaign. This went to all schools, was displayed on public transport, in waiting rooms and stations. It was at this point the Police and the Community Rail Partnership started to work together to look at re-branding the posters to include Safer Communities information.
  • Supported a TravelSafe Group to produce a questionnaire to go to young people, the information of which was correlated and disseminated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. This identified hot spots of activity, which in turn will help the partnership put in place specific strategies to help tackle these recurrent problems.
  • Invited CRAGRATS a drama company that work through schools and colleges throughout the UK to showcase to partnerships, organisations, the Police and education on the island in December 2008 with the idea of launching the DVD at the start of a TravelSafe week in Schools. Messages through drama and subsequent workshops has proved to be a powerful way of further supporting messages to young people from drug abuse, anti social behaviour and bullying to name but a few.  
  • Written bids and secured funding for a TravelSafe DVD and Launch week with additional updated posters/leaflets to include information for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. This TravelSafe DVD is to go to all young people on the IOW at both middle and high schools with a message reaching a far wider audience with parents, carers and families. The DVD will cover;
    1. The affects of anti social behaviour on public transport for both victims and offenders including a focus regarding bullying.
    2. Reporting mechanisms for when there is anti social behaviour.
    3. The young people from TravelSafe interviewing transport managers, the Police and education.
    4. Testimonials from young people, drivers, guards and the Police.
    5. Positive messaging promoting attractions, areas and activities that can be accessed by public transport.
    6. Positive message to encourage all to reduce carbon footprint.

The DVD will be then again be shown in assemblies in middle and high schools on the Island in September 2009 to further encourage them to start their own TravelSafe groups to tackle issues relevant to their area.