Jo Bridger has been appointed as Co-Chair of Transport for All, the disabled-led group transforming the transport system to remove barriers to disabled people’s travel. Jo will be working alongside Deborah Persaud to lead the Board of Trustees.
The appointment comes as the charity undertakes an ambitious programme of work including a nationally representative accessible transport survey exploring the experiences of disabled people whilst travelling, seeks to influence pavement parking laws, and joins calls for concessionary transport schemes for disabled people to be applied at all times of day.
She has been a Trustee of Transport for All since March 2024, and brings rail sector experience from her work in a national domestic abuse charity. In the role she developed ‘Rail to Refuge’, a scheme providing survivors of domestic abuse with free train travel to a refuge.
Jo has unparalleled experience in grass roots community organising and grant making. As a disabled person living with sight loss she has developed accessible database and data management systems.
Speaking about her appointment Jo said:
“I’m deeply honoured to be offered this opportunity to help lead such a bold and inspiring organisation. Disabled people must enjoy our rights to travel safely, widely and spontaneously – and to speak on our own behalf, in the variety of our voices.
“I’m looking forward to working closer with a brilliant team dedicated to making transport more accessible for all disabled people.”
Jo will be working alongside Deborah Persaud, who has guided the organisation since the death of her Co-Chair Alan Benson MBE in December 2023.
Deborah said:
“I was keen to continue the tradition of co-chairing, and I’m delighted that Jo has agreed to join me in leading Transport for All. Jo brings the skills and energy to continue the fantastic momentum that we’ve created over the last couple of years.
“Her commitment to the disabled community and work to improve and uphold our rights is tangible. She’ll be a great ambassador for the movement, particularly in the North of the UK. I’m really looking forward to our partnership and know that our complimentary skills will be greater than the sum of our parts.”
(Pic: Transport for All)
