Campaigners celebrated outside City Hall on Friday after learning that Transport for London (TfL) has made a renewed commitment to help asylum seekers gain access to cheaper travel.
A crowd of asylum seekers and activists gathered outside the mayor’s east London headquarters after TfL pledged to “better support” those arriving in the UK seeking protection, in terms of applying for discounts they may already be entitled to receive.
It follows a campaign on the issue by the charity Citizens UK, and also comes after the London Assembly last year passed a motion calling on Sir Sadiq Khan to provide asylum seekers with free bus travel for essential journeys.
While Friday’s announcement falls short of the Assembly’s request, Citizens UK believes it marks an important victory in helping asylum seekers take their children to school, or attend English language classes or medical appointments.
Asylum seekers, waiting to hear from the Home Office whether they will be granted refugee status or sent back to their home country, live on as little as £8.86 each week to cover any costs unrelated to their food or housing. They are usually unable to work and are not allowed to claim benefits either.
A TfL spokesman said: “We are always looking to ensure that our customers can access concessions and travel discounts as easily as possible and have been discussing with Citizens UK how we can better support those seeking asylum given their unique personal circumstances.
“Asylum seekers can already apply for existing TfL concessions, which benefit customers of all ages, but only where eligible. Those who need help completing their online applications can also contact our customer services to get further assistance.”
It is unclear at this stage what changes TfL may make to its processes to improve awareness and accessibility of its existing discount schemes. But the pledge to continue working closely with Citizens UK on the issue has been welcomed by campaigners.
Khadiga, a community-organising leader with Citizens UK, said: “I am a single mother of two school-aged children. One journey to school and back by bus costs £3.50.
“But we only received £8.86 a week, for everything from school uniforms to phone credit. How can we afford the bus?
“All parents should be able to take their children to school. But, on my daughter's first day of school, I was too sick to walk. I begged the bus driver to let us on. But we were refused as I couldn't afford the fare. My daughter missed her first day of school. Imagine if you can't get your daughter to school?
“For parents like me bus travel is essential so that we can support our children to get to school, so we can attend parents evenings, and so we can up pick our children up when they are sick.”
Noelle Doona, assistant headteacher at Hendon School, said: “Our parents seeking asylum are doing the best they can. But the cost of bus travel creates a significant challenge.
“Parents simply cannot afford important journeys to school including parent's evenings, school performances, or picking their children up when they are sick. We believe every child should be supported at school by their parents/ guardians and we believe bus travel is essential to facilitate this.”
Sir Sadiq’s deputy mayor for transport, Seb Dance, told the Standard: “The mayor and I are committed to doing all we can to help vulnerable Londoners travel across our city, including supporting those seeking asylum.
“We are pleased that TfL have been working positively with Citizens UK to improve processes for individuals seeking asylum and ensure that they are able to access travel concessions they are entitled to.”
