‘Local Links’, a free public transport pilot for asylum seekers delivered by the Department for Infrastructure provided eligible asylum seekers with a travel card providing free public transport on Translink services for six months.
Since the project began on 1st November 2023, Mears have distributed over 3,000 adult and child travel cards.
While they have received positive feedback on the pilot, it is important that they carry out a formal evaluation to help us understand the needs of asylum seekers and identify the benefits of free travel to this group.
This can help the Department for Infrastructure to plan future services.
As they enter the evaluation stage of the pilot, they would like to understand the impact the pilot has had on the lives of asylum seekers and to capture any wider benefits the pilot may have delivered to those working with asylum seekers.
If you are an English language learning provider or teacher/volunteer from the FE sector, community-setting or private language schools, we would be grateful if you could help us by completing this short survey via the link below:
https://consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/dfi-1/3e1711ff    (tested link – not spam)
The survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete. Deadline for responses – 7th June 2024.
Thanks for your help and support.
Ligia Parizzi
ESOL Coordinator NIRRS (Northern Ireland Refugee Resettlement Scheme)
028 9026 5233 / 07814046391 | www.belfastmet.ac.uk
