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Chris is travelling with confidence

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Travelling with Confidence Project Coordinator Frank accompanied learner Chris from Northern Butterflies on a supported journey to Whitley Bay using public transport.

Travelling with Confidence is a project funded by the Mobility Foundation to help people with a learning disability and autistic people gain travel independence.

The day began in Cramlington, where Chris confidently boarded the 57A bus from Dudley Lane shops. He successfully signalled the bus to stop, boarded correctly, found a seat, and pressed the stop button at the right time when they reached West Monkseaton. Before leaving the bus, Chris remembered to thank the driver, demonstrating excellent travel etiquette and growing confidence in using public transport independently.

At West Monkseaton Metro Station, Chris took the lead by using the ticket machine to purchase Metro tickets for both himself and Frank. After a short wait for the Metro, they travelled two stops to Whitley Bay.

Once they arrived, Chris used Google Maps to navigate the route to a local fish and chip shop, where they enjoyed lunch together. Afterward, he again used Google Maps to guide them to the amusement arcade, showing his increasing confidence in using technology to plan and complete journeys.

During their visit to the amusements, Chris enjoyed playing the 2p machines and had a game of bowling. He also treated himself to an ice cream before the journey home.

Later in the afternoon, Chris and Frank walked to the bus stop on Park Avenue to begin their return journey. Although the bus was around ten minutes late, they left Whitley Bay at approximately 1:30pm and arrived back at Manor Walks at around 2:20pm.

Overall, the supported journey was a great success. Throughout the day, Chris demonstrated a range of travel skills, including using buses and the Metro, purchasing tickets, navigating with digital maps, and travelling safely and confidently. While Chris has decided that he does not wish to take part in any further supported journeys, he particularly enjoyed using the Metro and would like to use it more often in the future.

Well done to Chris on a successful and enjoyable day of independent travel learning!

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Edinburgh hits the road with the Travelling with Confidence course

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Here our Travelling with Confidence Project Coordinator Frank, tells us about a recent trip to Edinburgh for the travel trainers and learners.

 

November 22, 2025

Two of the Learners Martha and Justine who have been doing the Travelling with Confidence course went on a supported journey. They were supported by two of our Travel Champions, Leanne and Andrew, who also came to Edinburgh.

Martha and I and Suzanne all boarded the train at Alnmouth train station and already on the Train was Justine the Learner and the two Travel Champions, Andrew and Leanne.

The Train was very busy on the way up to Edinburgh as it was the first week of the Christmas market.

Once we all arrived at Edinburgh Waverly train station as a group, we all walked to Princess Street Gardens this was where the Christmas market was, we all had a good look around the Market and some of the Learners and Champions brought some Christmas tree decorations we stayed at the market for around an hour and a half.

The Learners Martha and Justine then used Google Maps to take the group to the Roxy Lane Bowling Alley where myself, the Project Worker and one of the Champions, Andrew, and one of the Learners, Martha, had one game of bowling.

Once we had finished at the bowling alley, we then walked from the bowling alley to Hannover Street. The Learners Martha and Justine used Google Maps again to get us to the bus stop. It was a two-minute walk from the bowling alley to the bus stop.

We then took the bus from Hannover Street to Victoria Street and we walked as a group to the Royal Mile. We went for some lunch at Landy’s Fish and Chip Shop. One of the Travel Champions after lunch went to get some gifts, so we went to some of the gift shops on the Royal Mile and I (Frank) went to get some fudge at the fudge kitchen on the Royal Mile.

Below is a picture of one of the Learners, Martha, with her Travel Champion and Suzanne outside Mary Kings Close in Edinburgh.

Once we had had some time on the Royal Mile, we then went back to the market via the North Bridge. Leanne, the Travel Champion and Justine, the Learner used Google Maps to get us back to the Edinburgh market so Leanne could get a German hot dog.

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