Case Study: Building confidence and community on public transport

In Our Nature is proud to support Shaeda, from Flavours from Manchester CIC, helping women across Manchester gain independence and confidence using public transport.

The Let’s Go Green project was created through In Our Nature, as a way to help women from Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Arab communities travel more freely around the city. Many participants faced challenges such as language barriers, low confidence, and limited knowledge of routes beyond their local areas.

As part of our Community Support initiative, Shaeda ran the Let’s Go Green project in both the north and south of the city, receiving a Be Proud award for her work. Due to the success and novelty of this work and the clear impact it was having on the people involved, Shaeda was able to access a further round of support with us to take things a step further. This time, she focused on developing her own leadership and mentoring skills - bringing on board four women who had previously taken part to become new project leads themselves.

“It felt amazing to see them take on responsibility. They knew exactly how the participants felt because they’d been there themselves.”

Building confidence one journey at a time

Shaeda knew that confidence grows best in familiar, supportive environments. Rather than bringing together a whole new group of people, she connected with existing community groups across Manchester, and invited them to join, the opportunity then spread through word of mouth and soon enough she was oversubscribed!

She planned a series of practical travel sessions using buses and trams, teaching by doing. Together, the groups navigated trips into the city, learned how to read timetables, and shared new tools like the Bee Network app to track buses in real time.

This round, Shaeda’s focus was also on handing over responsibility. The four new facilitators helped coordinate tickets, timings and safety, while Shaeda took a step back to guide and mentor. This allowed her to double the number of participants.

“I learned that I can train other people up to do that job - it was a big load off my head actually.”

Challenges and what we learned

1. Outreach takes time
Reaching participants can be slow at first, so starting with existing community groups is the best use of time and energy. Trusted spaces lead to stronger uptake.
Advice: Begin where people already gather.

“I went to groups that were already up and running… explained my project there… that attracted a lot of attention because friends in those groups decided to come together on the trips.”

2. Sharing responsibility makes projects stronger
This round, Shaeda trained four previous participants to run the sessions, which made the project more manageable and helped build leadership from within the community.
Advice: Don’t try to do everything yourself. Share the role and the work will expand!

3. Climate conversations need to feel relevant
Shaeda found everyday ways to talk about climate-friendly living - from fashion and food to transport choices.

Advice: Make it relatable!

“We spoke about Asian clothes - swapping, restyling instead of buying new - and about food waste, buying loose fruit and veg.”

Impact

The project has helped women across Manchester travel with confidence - and share that confidence with others.

• 100% of participants said they now feel more confident using public transport.

• 94% are using buses and trams more often than before.

• 96% are walking more in their daily lives.

• Many participants have formed friendships that continue long after the project.

“One woman was housebound after chemotherapy. She told me, ‘I couldn’t have done it if I didn’t do the project with you.’”

Reflections and advice from Shaeda

Looking back, Shaeda says this final round has been about growth - both hers and the participants’.

Shaeda’s top tips for running similar projects:

• Start with existing community groups - it saves time and builds trust.

• Show, don’t just tell - travel the routes together.

“They’ve learned that the 192 goes straight to town… easier to teach by showing them than by explaining.”

• Have clear group policies around punctuality and safety.

• Make sessions relevant to real life - from errands to social trips.

• Be mindful of financial pressures and reimburse quickly.

• Keep connections alive with WhatsApp groups for continued support.

With support from In Our Nature, Shaeda has built a project that’s not only helped women navigate Manchester’s transport network but also created a ripple effect of confidence and connection across the city.