Are you currently looking for a job but finding travel costs hard to meet?

Sustainable Journeys is here to help get you where you need to go by offering free and discounted travel to interviews, and to your new workplace when you get a job.

We have two ticketing offers available:

• FREE one day travel passes on bus to get you to interviews
• FREE first four weeks of travel to a new job on bus and Metrolink, with discounted travel for 12 weeks afterwards.

How to apply:
You can apply for free and discounted travel through your Jobcentre Plus advisor. Simply ask your advisor about our offers and they’ll assess whether you’re eligible.  The one day passes are only available for Jobcentre customers attending job interviews.

FREE one day travel ticket
Sustainable Journeys is offering a free System One day ticket to jobseekers who are finding it difficult to get to interviews.

We are working with Jobcentre Plus to distribute these tickets. Your advisor will work with you to assess your requirements and Eligibility.

Your System One day ticket is valid for the date as shown on your ticket, and you can use it on any bus by any operator across Greater Manchester. 

FREE 28 day travel pass:
Sustainable Journeys is offering free travel on buses and Metrolink trams for the first 28 days of a new job or apprenticeship, then reduced price travel tickets for buses and trams for three more 28-day periods.

How to get your pass:
To apply you will need to be a Jobcentre Plus client who has gained employment and will be signing off the out of work benefit you are currently receiving. Your Jobcentre Plus advisor will confirm if you are eligible.

Apprenices of any age can apply for this initiative via their apprenticeship provider (the college or place of learning putting you through your qualification).

Travel Choices 28 day travel passes can be used on all Metrolink trams and most bus services in Greater Manchester, including buses run by Stagecoach, First, Go North West, Diamond and Arriva. You can find a full list of bus companies which will accept your ticket at www.systemonetravelcards.co.uk

Before you get your free 28 day pass, you first need to obtain a System One membership card.

To get your membership card and free ticket:

• Fill in the authorised application form from your Jobcentre Plus advisor or apprenticeship provider.
• Take the form and a passport-sized photo to a TfGM Travelshop (at main bus stations in Greater Manchester). They will issue you with a membership card and one free 28-day ticket, plus vouchers for three further discounted 28-day tickets.

Buying your discounted tickets:
The remaining three vouchers allow you to buy Sustainable Journeys 28 day bus and Metrolink travel passes at a reduced cost for 28-day tickets that usually cost around £130.00.

Your second ticket will cost £25.00.

Your third ticket will cost £50.00.

Your fourth and last will cost £75.00.

Each time you buy a discounted ticket your employer/apprenticeship provider must complete a voucher to confirm you will be in employment/apprenticeship training for the next 28 days.

A voucher can only be presented to a Travelshop to claim the next available ticket from the day that is two days before your current ticket expires.

Take the whole voucher booklet, with your previous travel ticket and membership card to a TfGM Travelshop to buy your discounted ticket. Please do not remove the vouchers yourself – doing so will void your application. The Travelshop advisor will do this, and confirm your System One membership number. The advisor will keep the voucher as proof they have issued your discounted ticket.

Using your tickets:
You must keep your membership card and ticket with you at all times when you are using it to travel and be ready to show them to the driver or other authorised person when required.

Please note that we may contact your employer to confirm your employment as part of our checks for legitimate usage.

Please keep your Sustainable Journeys 28 day travel pass, vouchers and tickets safe as we cannot replace them under any circumstances, including if they are lost or stolen.

What happens when I have used my vouchers?
We hope you find using public transport convenient and want to continue using it.

You can choose from a range of weekly, monthly and annual tickets that offer great value for journeys to work. Transport for Greater Manchester can help you choose the option that best suits your needs.

Find out more details at:

www.systemonetravelcards.co.uk

www.metrolink.co.uk

You can get more information on travelling across Greater Manchester and buy future travel tickets from your local Travelshop.

Travelshops are located at the following main bus stations and interchanges in Greater Manchester:

Altrincham, Ashton-under-Lyne, Bolton, Bury, Eccles, Hyde, Leigh, Middleton, Oldham, Piccadilly Gardens (Manchester City Centre), Rochdale, Shudehill (Manchester City Centre), Stockport, Wigan and Wythenshawe.

Free reconditioned bikes and brand new safety gear for jobseekers and apprentices

If you're moving into a new job or apprenticeship and would like to cycle to get there, Sustainable Journeys is offering free, reconditioned bikes to help you commit to arriving on time.

Cycling is great for fitness, as well as mental wellbeing.  Studies have shown that those who cycle to work or their place of learning arrive there alert and ready to take on the day.

Jobcentre Plus and partner organisations such as The Growth Company, Ingeus and Working Well, plus almost 100 apprenticeship providers across Greater Manchester are working with us at Transport for Greater Manchester to help provide bikes for people moving into new jobs and apprenticeships.

When you hear you are commencing a new job or apprenticeship, speak with your Jobcentre advisor or apprenticeship provider to find out more about our Bike Back To Work scheme.

If eligible, here's what we aim to provide you within one week of referral to us:

A free, reconditioned roadworthy bike that's the right height and specification for you;

A brand new helmet, lock, lights, high visibility vest, toolkit and puncture outfit to keep you safe on the road;

The offer of free cycle training should you need it.  There are three types on offer - a beginner's session if you've never ridden a bike before (please note we will not supply you with a bike until you have undertaken this training if you're new to cycling), an intermediate session for those who can ride, but need to build up road confidence and lastly, cycle maintenance to help you keep your bike in good, roadworthy condition.

Information on our Bike Back To Work schemes plus free and discounted bus and tram travel for jobseekers and apprentices can be found here...

https://tfgm.com/travel-choices/jobseekers

https://tfgm.com/travel-choices/apprentices