free bus trips for students across GM.

At First Bus, we firmly believe that transport should never be a barrier to opportunity. That’s why we offer free bus services to schools, charities, and community groups across Greater Manchester. The aim being to help young people experience educational, cultural, and recreational trips that enrich their learning. We recognise that for many schools and charities, the cost of travel can make trips or enrichment activities difficult to organise. By providing free transportation, we aim to remove one of the key obstacles standing between young people and new experiences.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

So far, we have provided this service to many organisations across Greater Manchester. In September of 2024, Harwood Park primary was able to visit Rochdale Town Hall to participate in an exhibition on environmental awareness, which featured a large-scale baby puppet. This interactive event was designed to spark conversations with children about the current state of our climate, and our responsibility to the planet’s future.

We also supported a local community group called ‘new pioneers project’ with a visit to Manchester Museum, in February. Where pupils explored history exhibits and broadened their understanding of the world beyond classroom learning. A quote from Daisy, co-founder of New Pioneers project, reflected on the positive impact this had on the children.

“The impact of this initiative was evident in the enthusiastic response from both parents and children upon their return to Spotland Community Centre. The children were particularly animated, eagerly sharing stories about their museum experience with staff and peers. This positive outcome highlights the importance of accessible transport in enabling meaningful cultural experiences and underscores First Bus's vital role in connecting communities with educational opportunities. The success of this initiative serves as a compelling example of how transport services can contribute to social inclusion and community engagement.”

And for one other primary school in Rochdale, Broadfield Park Primary, a visit to Lancaster Farm offered hands-lesson in nature, sustainability, and food production. Amanda, a teacher at Broadfield Park Primary shared her feedback on the service,

'We cannot thank Kevin and his team enough for providing us with travel for our school trip to the farm. Kevin was easy to communicate with, he responded promptly to our e-mails, and he worked hard to accommodate us and our requirements. The service was outstanding! The bus arrived on time, the driver was very friendly but most importantly of all, we were well looked after and felt extremely safe. Thank you, we will most definitely be using First buses again!'

Our free bus provision is part of First Bus’s broader commitment to supporting the communities we serve. We acknowledge that public transport plays a vital role in social inclusion because it provides people with access to opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach. For many schools and charities that we partner with, some of these trips wouldn’t be possible without our support.

At First Bus, we’re proud to play a small part in these big moments, because we believe that every journey matters.