Volunteers will be at the forefront of a new government public transport initiative that is being designed to deal with the increased pressure on routes as lockdown is lifted.

Journey Makers is being coordinated by Volunteering Matters on behalf of the Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership and the Department for Transport.

It will see volunteers working on the transport network to offer guidance and advice, to support with social distancing, to prevent overcrowding and help vulnerable passengers on their journeys.

Volunteering Matters will commission local partners, supporting them with resources and expertise in volunteer management, as well as the recruitment, training and safeguarding of volunteers.

According to a statement from Volunteering Matters Chief Executive, Raul Reddish, they will be identifying which local organisations will be best placed to co-coordinate the scheme.

Speaking during the government’s daily press briefing on 23 May, Transport Minister Grant Shapps said:

“From 1 June at the earliest – as we move to Phase 2 of the unlock – we will start to deploy twice as many marshals with the assistance of groups like the charity – Volunteering Matters.

“These Journey Makers will help provide reassurance, advice and friendly assistance to commuters.

“The last time we did this, at the 2012 Olympics, it was a great success.

“While these are altogether more serious times – if we show the same public-spirited concern for one another, it will go a long way towards helping transport and passengers cope.”