Pupils travel to London aboard the Mayflower bus as our Transport Subsidy Scheme marks more than 6,000 young people supported
Since Mayflower launched their new Transport Subsidy Scheme in partnership with Xelabus in January 2025, over 6,000 students have been able to experience live theatre, many for the first time. To mark this moment, local MPs, Darren Paffey and Satvir Kaur invited students from Mayflower partner schools, St Patricks Catholic Primary School, Weston Secondary School and Woodlands Community College to visit Parliament to reinforce the importance of the scheme. Darren welcomed the students in Westminster Hall.
The Transport Subsidy Scheme supports schools as well as community groups funding their transport to both Mayflower venues. In 2023, UK Theatre’s Theatre for Every Child campaign was introduced to amplify national voice about the importance of theatre visits for schools and the subsidy scheme is just one way in which Mayflower supports this national campaign.
Michael Ockwell, Chief Executive of Mayflower, said: “We are immensely proud that we have reached over 6,000 students in the past two years and enabled them to enjoy the transformative power of live theatre at our venues. The partnership with Xelabus helps us remove one of the biggest barriers for schools – the cost of travel.”
As a charity, it is vital for us to make theatre accessible to all, and this scheme is already making a tangible difference.
20% of local school pupils
have been provided with 100% subsidised transport to see theatre shows thanks to the partnership between Mayflower and Xelabus
Established in January 2025, the scheme helps to fulfil our aim that every person has the right to attend live theatre and experience the joy and opportunity this can bring.
Darren Paffey, MP for Southampton Itchen said, “It was a delight to meet the fantastic young people and chat to them in Westminster Hall. I have seen first-hand the positive impact that theatre and the arts can have on young people across Southampton. For many children, simply getting to a theatre can be a significant barrier to accessing these opportunities. Mayflower’s Transport Subsidy Scheme is a fantastic initiative that helps remove that barrier, ensuring more young people can experience the inspiration, creativity and confidence that live theatre can bring”.
Satvir Kaur, MP for Southampton Test added, “Mayflower’s Transport Subsidy Scheme delivers benefits not only for young people, but for our city and the wider region. By enabling thousands of children to experience the arts for the first time, the scheme opens doors to creativity, learning and aspiration. Those first encounters with theatre can be truly life-changing, inspiring the next generation of performers, technicians, creatives and cultural leaders who may go on to build careers in the arts and creative industries”.
Positive feedback from schools has been overwhelming since launching the Transport Subsidy Scheme last year
“We have a high percentage of children who are considered to have a disadvantage. Most of the children we brought on this trip would not have the opportunity to see a live performance or attend the theatre. It has increased their cultural capital and has given them an experience they wouldn’t otherwise have had a chance to access. Additionally, through the transport subsidy children were travelling without their parents which is building their independence, resilience and knowledge of the local world.”
“The transport subsidy has been the “make or break” factor in being able to allow our children to attend. We have linked it to a pupil premium focused drama project, and keeping the cost low has been essential for getting the opportunity available to as many people as possible, giving many of them their first experience of theatre. If we had needed to add the cost of the coach onto the cost of the ticket, it would not have been viable for many of our families.”
Phil Blair, Commercial Manager for Xelabus added, “At Xelabus we have been delighted by the uptake in school children visits to Mayflower venues. Our bus in its stunning livery with theatrical characters really does stand out on the road and much admired by passers-by. The transport subsidy is something we have certainly wanted to be part of and offer discounted travel for so many young visitors and for them to experience the magic of theatre. We hope many more schools take up the opportunity with our buses providing the transport going forward!”
The schools trip to Parliament was kindly supported by Brakes, Honeybuns, Calbee Group UK Ltd, Capri Sun UK Ltd and Pip Organic.
Learn more about how the subsidy works and apply for support