Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free bus travel to and from school

Children who are currently living in temporary housing in Greater Manchester are set to get extra support with school travel.

In a move that was announced by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) at the end of last week, and following years of campaigning, homeless children living in temporary accommodation are now set to get free school travel on all Bee Network buses.  

TfGM says it understands that some children end up a long way from their school when placed into temporary accommodation, and this leaves parents or carers with the difficult choice of either having to move them to a closer school, which ultimately disrupts their education, or having to pay unexpected travel costs.

While the Greater Manchester Strategy – which is the plan for the city region’s next decade – commits to reducing the number of families and children in temporary accommodation, and measures are also being taken to make sure residents have the support they need to ‘access, improve, and retain’ a decent, affordable home, this doesn’t tackle the immediate issue.

So, to help those families when they ‘need it most’, free bus travel to and from school is set to be provided, as subject to approval of this year’s Combined Authority budget.

The move comes after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham asked TfGM last year to look at options to help with the cost of travel.

“Using our locally-controlled Bee Network buses to support families when they need it most is the right thing to do,” Andy Burnham commented.

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Of course, the long-term solution is no kids in TA and we’re working with our councils to achieve this in the next few years.

We can do it because GM will soon hit the point where we are building more council and social homes every year than we’re losing through right-to-buy. 👍🏻

— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) February 6, 2026

“A move into temporary accommodation is often a massive upheaval for families and can be a worrying time. With this measure, the cost of travel to school will be one less thing for families to worry about.

“It will mean parents and carers don’t have to choose between an extra demand on their household budget and keeping their children with friends and teachers they know and trust.”

Read more:

• All Greater Manchester buses are now under local control following ‘historic move’
• Manchester given extra £3m funding to help ‘prevent’ homelessness and rough sleeping
• 18-21 year olds can now travel on Greater Manchester’s buses for half price

TfGM will now work with local Councils across the region to agree the details and implement the scheme this year.

Further details are set to be announced in due course.