/our friends

Leicestershire City and County Council

/Leicestershire City and County Council – Independent Travel

Bus Confidence

“I think the success of the project was down to the enthusiasm of everyone at CragRats. The characters and activities developed for the website are fun and engaging. The organisation at CragRats ensured I was fully briefed on each decision that had to be made and there was always someone there to answer my queries no matter how trivial. Working with CragRats has been a very positive experience and has definitely delivered the required results.”

Denise Hough
Project Worker Leicestershire Post 16 Transport Partnership

/challenge

Leicestershire City and County Council (LCCC) approached CragRats to create a multi-level, sustainable resource for their independent travel programme.

LCCC identified that they had a responsibility towards promoting independent travel to students with special educational needs (SEN), as well as regional schools and the parents and carers of the students.

To satisfy budgetary constraints the sustainability of the programme had to be at the forefront of its
creation.

/approach

In consultation with LCCC, CragRats developed a multi-level approach that focused on three elements; a ‘Bus Confidence’ website and e-learning programme, Training sessions for delegates in using the on-line resource and live interactive presentations and workshops for SEN students promoting independent travel and the Bus Confidence website.

Creating the website met the need for the programme to not only be exciting and engaging for the target audiences, but also to be flexible, updatable and most importantly, sustainable.

Compatibility and user tests were conducted to ensure that students and schools alike would find the resource fun, easy to use and effective in communicating the key messages. The online resource also included important information for parents and carers. Training sessions for delegates were held in order for them to make the most of accessing and utilising the resources. This was essential to ensure the project was a ‘living and breathing’ resource across the region. An interactive theatre tour across Leicestershire supported the launch of the ‘Bus Confidence’ website.

The innovative and engaging event focused on planning and preparation, behavioural skills and coping mechanisms, road safety and also referenced the use of the online resource in order to drive traffic to the sites and launch the programme.

/results

Leicestershire City and County Council were delighted with the outcomes as follows:

Student results and comments:

93% said the event made them want to learn how to use public transport.
94% learnt more about travelling by bus.

“I learnt how to catch a bus and I also learnt to become more independent.”

“I liked learning about how to cross a road safely.”

Teachers/Travel trainers results and comments:

100% felt the interactive resources developed are useful for students

100% said the teaching resources developed are useful for students

“Accessibility to the website for parents, pupils and tutors is a major plus”
"[The programme has] shown the students the fun but serious side of being independent – sent a very strong message in a way they understand.”

"The interaction was great; it was topical and pitched at the right level for our learners. I felt it was aimed at
their capabilities.”

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