The free bus travel scheme for refugees fleeing countries such as Ukraine and Afghanistan has been scrapped by the Welsh government after two years.
The Welcome Ticket programme was launched in March 2022 and was designed to be a helpful tool for those looking to make the UK their home.
It ends today, Journey March 31, but the Welsh government has said it intends to introduce a replacement in the future.
Over the past two years, the Welsh government who is in charge of transport as it is devolved, said an estimated one million journeys had been taken using Welcome Ticket.
The project was funded by Welsh government schemes the Bus Emergency Scheme, and the Bus Transition Fund, which were introduced to help bus and rail services recover after the pandemic - both of which have now ended.
The Welcome Ticket programme was launched in March 2022 and was designed to be a helpful tool for those looking to make the UK their home
One of the people who will be effected by the ending of free bus travel is Marius Ambara Kamna (pictured) who fled to Wales from Sierra Leone because of his sexuality
Over the past two years, the Welsh government who is in charge of transport as it is devolved, said an estimated around one million journeys had been taken using Welcome Ticket
It is not clear how much money was spent by the Welsh government providing the refugees free bus travel, but a similar scheme in Scotland has outlined £2m for the upcoming financial year.
The Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf confirmed in November the money had been set aside for next year's budget.
One of the people who will be effected by the ending of free bus travel in Wales is Marius Ambara Kamna who fled to the country from Sierra Leone because of his sexuality.
The 32-year-old told the BBC: 'Withdrawing the scheme would be a shame. Many people cannot afford tickets to move around.'
He said he arrived in Wales with almost nothing, but was able to get around using the tickets.
'It's very helpful for everyone. You can jump on the bus and it's totally free. I use it to go to school, I use it to visit friends, sometimes I go to visit people around Wales', he said.
Now Mr Kamna is worried about how he will get around without the free travel in the future.
Kirran Lochhead Strang, who works at the Cardiff based refugee charity Oasic centre, said scrapping Welcome Ticket would hinder those trying to integrate into society.
The project was funded by Welsh government schemes the Bus Emergency Scheme, and the Bus Transition Fund, which were introduced to help bus and rail services recover after the pandemic - both of which have now ended (pictured: Senedd Welsh National Assembly building)
Kirran Lochhead Strang (pictured), who works at the Cardiff based refugee charity Oasic centre, said scrapping Welcome Ticket would hinder those trying to integrate into society
Many of the refugees living in Wales have come from Afghanistan (pictured)
Campaigners have said free bus travel helps prevent isolation among people in the asylum system, allowing them to more easily attend GP appointments, solicitors meetings and language lessons.
Under UK wide employment law, people applying for asylum are unable to work.
The Home Office provides £47.39 per week, which equals around £6.80 a day, for people in uncatered accommodation.
Free bus travel for refugees is scrapped in Wales after two years
por Tracey Dash (01/04/2024)
The free bus travel scheme for refugees fleeing countries such as Ukraine and Afghanistan has been scrapped by the Welsh government after two years.The Welcome Ticket programme was launched in March 2022 and was designed to be a helpful tool for those looking to make the UK their home.
It ends today, Journey March 31, but the Welsh government has said it intends to introduce a replacement in the future.
Over the past two years, the Welsh government who is in charge of transport as it is devolved, said an estimated one million journeys had been taken using Welcome Ticket.
The project was funded by Welsh government schemes the Bus Emergency Scheme, and the Bus Transition Fund, which were introduced to help bus and rail services recover after the pandemic - both of which have now ended.
The Welcome Ticket programme was launched in March 2022 and was designed to be a helpful tool for those looking to make the UK their home
One of the people who will be effected by the ending of free bus travel is Marius Ambara Kamna (pictured) who fled to Wales from Sierra Leone because of his sexuality
Over the past two years, the Welsh government who is in charge of transport as it is devolved, said an estimated around one million journeys had been taken using Welcome Ticket
It is not clear how much money was spent by the Welsh government providing the refugees free bus travel, but a similar scheme in Scotland has outlined £2m for the upcoming financial year.
The Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf confirmed in November the money had been set aside for next year's budget.
One of the people who will be effected by the ending of free bus travel in Wales is Marius Ambara Kamna who fled to the country from Sierra Leone because of his sexuality.
The 32-year-old told the BBC: 'Withdrawing the scheme would be a shame. Many people cannot afford tickets to move around.'
He said he arrived in Wales with almost nothing, but was able to get around using the tickets.
'It's very helpful for everyone. You can jump on the bus and it's totally free. I use it to go to school, I use it to visit friends, sometimes I go to visit people around Wales', he said.
Now Mr Kamna is worried about how he will get around without the free travel in the future.
Kirran Lochhead Strang, who works at the Cardiff based refugee charity Oasic centre, said scrapping Welcome Ticket would hinder those trying to integrate into society.
The project was funded by Welsh government schemes the Bus Emergency Scheme, and the Bus Transition Fund, which were introduced to help bus and rail services recover after the pandemic - both of which have now ended (pictured: Senedd Welsh National Assembly building)
Kirran Lochhead Strang (pictured), who works at the Cardiff based refugee charity Oasic centre, said scrapping Welcome Ticket would hinder those trying to integrate into society
Many of the refugees living in Wales have come from Afghanistan (pictured)
Campaigners have said free bus travel helps prevent isolation among people in the asylum system, allowing them to more easily attend GP appointments, solicitors meetings and language lessons.
Under UK wide employment law, people applying for asylum are unable to work.
The Home Office provides £47.39 per week, which equals around £6.80 a day, for people in uncatered accommodation.