Travel to Refuge

 About the scheme

The Travel to Refuge Scheme is where travel companies provide free train or coach tickets for women, men and children travelling to refuge accommodation.

Rail to Refuge

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) worked with Women’s Aid in early 2020 to create this scheme for those using Women’s Aid services and following this, the ManKind Initiative successfully persuaded the RDG to ensure this also applied to all men with children who needed to travel to refuge services, which the charity then coordinated free of charge.

On 23 November 2020, the RDG announced they would be extending this scheme and that tickets would be available through Women’s Aid in England, Wales and Scotland; Imkaan, which specifically helps black, Asian and minority ethnic women; and Respect, which runs the Men’s Advice Line.

Road to Refuge

In 2023 Road to Refuge, a joint initiative between Women’s Aid and National Express was set up, providing free coach travel for survivors of abuse.

This is a very good scheme and certainly supports all victims of domestic abuse to escape to a safe place.

If you require free train or coach tickets for men to travel to your refuge, please call the Respect charity who run Men’s Advice Line: https://mensadviceline.org.uk/

Further information about the scheme can be found at

https://www.womensaid.org.uk/what-we-do/supporting-our-members/travel-to-refuge/