Women’s Aid has joined forces with the UK’s leading scheduled coach operator to support survivors of abuse by providing free National Express coach travel across the UK.
The new Road to Refuge scheme provides women, men and children escaping domestic abuse with access to free National Express coach travel to reach safe refuge accommodation and support.
National Express initially supported the expansion of the Rail to Refuge scheme in summer 2022, supporting survivors during rail strikes by offering their coach services for free when survivors were unable to flee by train.
How does the scheme work?
- A survivor reaches out for support from a domestic abuse service which is a member of Women’s Aid Federation of England, Imkaan, Scottish Women’s Aid or Welsh Women’s Aid (including Respect’s Men’s Advice Line).
- If appropriate, the survivor will be referred to a refuge and will be informed once a refuge vacancy has been confirmed.
- The refuge books a free coach ticket for the survivor (further details below).
- The refuge can send the ticket and collection details to the survivor via a mobile phone. The survivor can then either use an e-ticket or text sent to their mobile phone, pick the ticket up from the station using any debit or credit card, or the refuge can request the ticket via post and provide it to the survivor in person. They can travel like normal, without having to declare the ticket was free or that they are fleeing from domestic abuse.
Please note: to obtain a ticket, a survivor must have a confirmed refuge space. If you are a survivor needing support today, contact us