TWO KEIGHLEY teenagers have been given medals for staying safe while they travel.

Beechcliffe Special School students Harris Roberts and Kieron Negri is a special travel training course to support their independence.

The 17-year-olds undertook travel training with Bradford Council's Travel Training Unit and have now been travelling independently for six months.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Cllr Geoff Reid, and the Lady Mayoress visited the Keighley school this month to present awards to Harris and Kieron.

Travel training is a structured and planned course of training which helps children and young people make their first step towards independence.

The unit works with disabled and non-disabled children and young people need support, assistance, mentoring and training to plan and use walking routes and all forms of public transport including buses and trains.

The Travel Training Unit supports children and young people on a one-to-one basis or in small groups planning and practising journeys.

They also help with learning-associated tasks and skills to enable students to travel independently to and from school.

Cllr Reid, said: "It's a real privilege to be presenting these awards to Keiron and Harris. They deserve great credit for completing the training and putting into practice what they've learnt.”

Karen, Harris's mother, said travel turning had really paid off for her son.

She added: “Harris is now able to travel independently getting two buses, going into Keighley bus station and then out to school. He has managed in all sorts of weather and even got to school on a snowy day!"

Debbie, Keiron's mother, said Keiron’s trainer had put him at ease and explained things really well.

She said: “The team work in partnership with parents so they let me know how things were going. All in all it was a great experience.”

Cllr Val Slater, Deputy Leader of Bradford Council and portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, congratulated the two teenagers for travelling independently for six months.

She added: “Travel training is a great way in which we can help young people gain skills that give them independence.”