CARERS and young disabled people are being given the same bus fares as students to help them remain active and get out and about.

Holders of Carers’ Cards and Compass Cards can travel on Brighton & Hove Buses at the same rate as students thanks to a unique partnership between the bus company and the council to help carers and those they care for lead as full a life as possible.

The bus company has teamed up with Brighton & Hove City Council to offer holders of the two card schemes discounted fares.

Murray Hecht, of Saltdean, said: “I’m a full-time carer for my disabled mum and obviously money is tight. Having the discounted bus travel has been a godsend. I go out shopping for my mum every single day and now I can make a large saving on bus travel. It’s been brilliant – a really great help.”

Brighton and Hove Buses Managing Director Martin Harris said: “Access to affordable transport can change lives. We’re committed to supporting carers and the people they care for with discounted fares to make the most of what our city has to offer and so everyone has the chance to live the fullest life possible.

“This initiative has worked so well; it’s now been extended to Eastbourne.”

Brighton and Hove City Council’s lead member for adult social care, Councillor Karen Barford, said: “The Carers’ Card offers a range of discounts to support carers with their own health and wellbeing as well as the person they are caring for.

“Our feedback from carers is that affordable travel is really important in terms of helping them to continue caring for family and friends.

“We know that the financial impact of caring can be huge, so we’re really pleased that Brighton and Hove buses are playing such an important part in the highly-valued Carers’ Card scheme.”

Compass/Carers’ Card manager Ann Blackburn, of the charity Amaze, which delivers both card schemes for the council, said: “The Brighton and Hove Buses and City Sightseeing tour discounts are a real benefit to the Compass Card scheme.

“Safe, affordable travel can be the key to helping young people access other Compass Card discounts across the city and beyond.”

Chris Lau, director of the Carers’ Centre in Brighton and Hove, said: “Most carers are on low income and can’t afford the bus fare to go out and about. The Carers Card discount makes a difference to carers’ lives. It gives them a social life outside of their caring role.”

The Brighton and Hove Carers’ Card offers discounts on local leisure and other activities to anyone providing regular unpaid help or support to someone who has a physical disability or frailty, learning disability, long-term illness, mental health problems, or substance misuse issues.

The Compass Card provides leisure discounts – in Brighton and Hove, West Sussex and beyond – for young people up to the age of 25 who have significant disabilities or special educational needs.