With the Easter holidays fast approaching, remember to apply for your child’s free bus travel card if you haven’t already! It enables all children and young people under the age of 22 to travel anywhere in Scotland free on the bus.
The NEC scheme adds an extra depth of independence for young people throughout the country. You can relax knowing that your child will always have their bus fare on them, and they don’t have to rely on school buses if they ever sleep in! Clubs, sports and other activities are also more accessible than ever with the free transport.
Here are some ideas of how you can use the National Entitlement Card for some fun activities during the Easter holidays:
- Grab a bus to the cinema with friends and go see a film together! Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore comes out on the 8th of April. Head down on a weekday for quieter screens and cheaper tickets.
- Hop on a bus to Glasgow for the day. There are plenty of shops to look around, and the food court in the St. Enoch centre has enough options for the whole family. You can get the number 57 bus from the city centre down to Pollock Country Park in the Southside and see some Highland cows in lovely surroundings.
- Xcite has a full timetable of Easter activities, easily accessible with your NEC! You can view them here: https://www.westlothianleisure.com/current-activities/easter-holiday-programme/
If you have any difficulties with registering for a card, you can contact the West Lothian NEC Helpline on 01506 280150. You can also view the FAQ for the scheme on Transport Scotland’s website here: https://www.transport.gov.scot/concessionary-travel/young-persons-free-bus-travel-scheme/
Visit the Young Scot website for a guide on how to use your card best: https://young.scot/the-young-scot-card
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev_sEjprEDE
If you have already received your NEC, did you know you can also add it as a virtual card onto your phone? You’ll never have to worry about leaving your card behind and missing out on your free bus. To find out how to add it on your phone, follow this short tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDHtISzmwk0