The conference was held in York in June 2023.

Brief report on National Conference: “Campaigning for Outstanding Bus Services”

The conference took place on Saturday June 17^th, 11am to 4pm (hybrid)

The conference was attended by over 110 people, 73 of them face to face in York and others on Zoom.

People joined from across the UK and from a wide range of campaign groups, trade unions, organisations representing older people and people with disabilities, and individuals affected by our crisis-ridden bus services.

The event was sponsored by 27 national, local and regional organisations. (Full list below).  A total of over £3000 was donated towards the cost of the conference.  Money remaining will be used to develop campaigning materials.

Keynote speakers at the opening session were:

Louise Haigh (Shadow Transport Minister) sent a video. She pledged that as Transport Minister she would take back control of our buses – extending franchising to every community that wants it and removing the ideological ban on municipal ownership.

Ellie Harrison (Get Glasgow Moving)

Brad Taylor (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England)

Jan Shortt (NPC)

Matthew Topham (We Own It).

The opening session was followed by face to face workshops and online breakout sessions before and after lunch which focused on particular issues:

• General – Building effective campaigns
• Campaigning in rural areas
• Campaigning in Mayoral Authorities
• Issues around accessibility and equality
• Linking with campaigns around climate issues.

In the final session the conference agreed a number of campaigning activities:

• There was overwhelming agreement to call a national week of action during the first week in October, with the focus on demands for better and guaranteed funding
• A follow up Zoom meeting took place on Monday July 10^th which discussed next steps including creating a national network, publicity, campaigning materials etc. 
• Suggested slogan: “Think nationally, act locally!”

To be added to the national campaign email list please send to betterbusesnational@gmail.com

Organisations which sponsored the conference

• Get Glasgow Moving
• We Own It
• National Pensioners Convention
• Campaign for the Protection of Rural England
• Transport Action Network
• Unite Retired Members
• Bakers’ Union (BFAWU)
• University and College Union (UCU)
• Association of British Commuters
• Yorkshire and Humber TUC
• Barnsley Trade Union Council
• Sheffield Trade Union Council
• GMB Retired Members Yorkshire, Humber and Northern
• UNISON Yorkshire and Humber Region
• UNISON Yorkshire Water
• UNISON Retired Members East Yorkshire Region
• UCU Retired Members Yorkshire and Humber
• UNITE Retired Members Yorkshire and Humber
• UNITE 300/21 branch West Yorks Retail Logistics
• UNITE Community Leeds, Wakefield and York
• UNITE Community South Yorkshire
• Yorkshire and Humber Pensioners Convention
• Merseyside Pensioners Association
• Walsall Pensioners Convention
• North Staffordshire Pensioners Association
• East Midlands Pensioners Convention
• West Midlands Pensioners Convention
• South Yorkshire Climate Alliance
• Burngreave Clean Air Campaign Sheffield
• York Bus Forum
• Better Buses South Yorkshire
• Better Buses West Yorkshire
• Better Buses North Yorkshire

If your organisation is not on this list, please encourage them to support the national campaign. Email betterbusesnational@gmail.com for information to help with putting a motion.