RESIDENTS of the Forest of Dean are set to benefit from a new initiative aimed at supporting local veterans in their search for employment. 

Gloucestershire County Council, in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus, has introduced a travel card that provides veterans with free bus travel across the county. 

The scheme, which was proposed by Cllr Cate Cody, leader of the Green Party at Gloucestershire County Council, received unanimous approval from councillors in February. 

The travel card, recently launched at the Veterans Café in Gloucester, is part of the council's broader efforts to recognise and support those who have served in the Armed Forces. 

Veterans who are claiming Universal Credit or other DWP benefits are eligible for the card. 

Each card provides 50 single free bus journeys, allowing veterans to travel across Gloucestershire as they seek employment opportunities. Importantly, the card remains valid even after a veteran gain employment, enabling them to use any remaining journeys. 

For veterans in the Forest of Dean, this initiative could be a lifeline, particularly in a rural area where transport can be a significant barrier to accessing job opportunities.  

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, highlighted the dual benefits of the scheme: "This will help us provide support to veterans while they are seeking employment in Gloucestershire by offering them free bus travel. It will also encourage greater use of the many bus services we have in the county, as buses are a green and sustainable way to travel." 

Local Jobcentre Plus offices will be responsible for issuing the cards, ensuring that eligible veterans can easily obtain one. The initiative also aligns with the council's commitment to sustainability, promoting public transport as an environmentally friendly alternative. 

Cllr Andrew Gravells, armed forces champion for Gloucestershire, expressed his pride in the council's ongoing support for the armed forces community: "We owe all of our armed forces personnel and their families a debt of gratitude for serving their country, and it’s important we can give them something back." 

Veterans in the Forest of Dean seeking more information can visit the Veterans’ Travel Card webpage or the Armed Forces Covenant pages on the Gloucestershire County Council website.