Criteria for Concessionary Boat Fare Scheme
What is a Concessionary Boat Fare?
It is a discretionary concession to ensure off-island residents can reach vital services available on St Mary's.
Each year eligible residents receive a total of 52 single fare vouchers. Upon request Health Special Passes are issued for reaching health appointments on St Mary’s outside standard boating times.
Who can apply to this scheme?
To be eligible for the scheme you must:
- be a resident of an Isles of Scilly
- off-island (resident for 10 months of the year or more)
- of state pensionable age OR
- qualify as eligible disabled, as per the national bus pass criteria.
- People who reach state pensionable age part-way through the year can apply for a smaller pro-rata allocation of tickets.
When can I use my vouchers?
Vouchers can be used for journeys to health appointments on St Mary’s, the library, Queen Elizabeth II Community Sports Hall, Normandy Swimming Pool, Memory Café, visiting friends and family, shopping, collecting prescription medicines and more.
How do I use my vouchers?
- Simply hand a voucher to your local boat service as ‘payment’.
- If I do not use my passes can I give them to someone else to use?
- No. Vouchers are not transferable.
What do I do if I run out of vouchers?
Concessionaires receive their full allocation of tickets at the beginning of the financial year. Additional tickets may be requested and will be issued in blocks of eight, and a total of 16 additional single fare tickets can be issued in the financial year. It must be highlighted that these additional tickets are subject to funding and you are not guaranteed the extra tickets.
To request additional tickets, please write to Concessionary Travel ASC, Council of the Isles of Scilly, Town Hall, St Mary’s, TR21 0LW or email concessionary@scilly.gov.uk or telephone 01720 424470.
How do I use my Health Passes?
These are valid for use on your local boat service. They are to enable you to access health appointments on St Mary’s that require you to travel outside regular scheduled boat journeys. You can also use your passes to visit a partner who is in hospital, on St. Mary’s. You will be eligible up to a maximum of 4 Health Passes each year.
To request a Health Pass, please contact concessionary@scilly.gov.uk or telephone 01720 424470 giving your health appointment details. Upon approval you can choose to have your Health Pass sent via email to print and hand to your local boat provider, choose to have the pass issued straight to your boat provider or sent via Royal Mail to your home address.
Please book your travel with either Tresco Boat Services or St. Agnes Boating at a time that suits your needs. If the cost of the journey is less than this amount the Council of the Isles of Scilly will be charged for this amount only, no ‘change’ will be given.
If your NHS health appointment is on the mainland, you will need to contact the Patient Transport Service on 01872 252211, who when booking your flights, will arrange for your boat fare to be covered by the NHS.
