Bus operators including First, Arriva, Coastliner and EYMS are supporting the national scheme called Bus for Jobs by offering jobseekers free journeys for a month.

Jobseekers are being granted free bus travel in York throughout January in a new bid to help more people find employment in the New Year. http://www.busforus.co.uk/busforjobs

Jobseekers that have been unemployed between three months and one year will be eligible for the Bus for Jobs scheme, with a valid JobCentre Plus Travel Discount Card, although the scheme is particularly targeted at young people for whom unemployment rates remain high.

This initiative is known as Bus for Jobs and is open to those aged 18 years or more who have been unemployed for between three months and less than one year.

If you are a holder of a valid Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card, you can in January 2013 make unlimited numbers of journeys free of charge on the routes offered by the bus companies in England, Scotland and Wales shown on this website (with some local exclusions). However, you must carry a valid card and show it to the driver at the start of each and every journey you make.

To be eligible for the card, which is free of charge, you must already receive Jobseekers’ Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support and be actively engaged with a Jobcentre Plus adviser in returning to work. Those participating on the new Work Programme do not qualify for this scheme.

Please note that JobCentre Plus Travel Discount Cards are only available and issued by JobCentre Plus and not by individual bus companies.

For full details of terms and conditions and how to apply for a card, please contact your local Jobcentre Plus. To find out more information about Jobcentre Plus and your nearest office, visit www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus

NB. The same government web siteprovides information aimed specifically at 16 -25 year olds http://www.busforus.co.uk/