Our Pass Is There For You: Mayor Urges School Leavers To Apply For Their Membership Card And Activate A Host Of Opportunities Across The City-Region
- Tuesday, July 6, 2021
- Posted By The Growth Company
Andy Burnham has sent a message to all Greater Manchester school leavers that Our Pass 'is there for you’ and urged them to take advantage of its benefits as applications open today (July 1).
Our Pass is a UK first. Now in its third year, it is aimed at Greater Manchester’s GCSE leavers, and care leavers aged 18-21. Designed by and made for young people, members gain access to two distinct offers at this important time in their life: free bus travel and reduced tram travel as well as exclusive offers and experiences.
Our Pass can be used in all of Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs and that includes being able to pick-up an exclusive JD Lanyard from your local library. Those who are eligible to apply must live in Greater Manchester and have been born between 1 September 2003 and 31 August 2005.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:
"We’ve been living through tough times but at least we have a glimmer of hope now. And, as we open up again, Our Pass will be there for you. Our Pass is here to unlock the city-region, a pass to all 10 boroughs.
"Back in 2017, we said that Greater Manchester would use the freedoms we have under devolution to make young people our priority for investment. We have stuck to that and recommitted to prioritising support for our young people.
"We know that our young people have sacrificed a lot over the last year. Many young lives have been severely disrupted. We now need to make an extra effort to help them get back on track. I want to say to all those Year 11s, thinking about what’s next, that Our Pass will be there for you when you start on that new journey in September."
Over the next few months Our Pass will be announcing exclusives for members to look forward to as we come out of lockdown. Since Our Pass first went live in September 2019, homegrown brands like Park Life, the Halle, Vimto, Manchester City and Manchester United have been offering their support with a series of offers and competitions.
At Parklife 2019 ten lucky Our Pass winners, together with a guest, won tickets. Now the weekend festival is set to return, at Heaton Park, on the revised date of 11-12 September - with an exciting new exclusive Our Pass competition to be announced in the next few weeks.
In the meantime, current Our Pass members are already benefitting from a range of exclusives including free or discounted activity sessions enabling them to take part in fitness training, obstacle courses and go-karting; as well as meal vouchers and competitions.
Our Pass Ambassador Emma Greenwood, aged 17, said:
"Our Pass has enabled me to access so many opportunities and explore Greater Manchester in a way I would never have been able to before. It has given me the accessibility to freedom and independence that all 16-18 year olds need."
Finlay McGrath, now aged 19, said:
"Our Pass really changed the way I went around Greater Manchester. Predominantly using the Metrolink for years I was able to use buses more & to go into different areas. Being an Ambassador for Our Pass also enabled me to visit some awesome venues to do workshops & photoshoots. I’m buzzing that the younger generation are able to have such an amazing program for them to explore our amazing city region."
Our Pass ambassador Annabelle Cook, aged 17, said:
"This past year hasn't been an ideal start to college but through Our Pass I've still managed to do some new and interesting stuff like live stream a Halle Concert and do an aerial course at C4C, so I can't wait to see what Our Pass has got lined up for us to apply for when restrictions lift."
Details on how to access exclusives can be found by visiting ourpass.co.uk
Pictures available on request. For further information contact Simon Greenhalgh on 07340 388 641 or email simon.greenhalgh@ourpass.info
The only scheme of its kind in the UK, Our Pass supports young people at a crucial moment in their lives. As they leave school at 16, they face decisions that will shape their future. These aren’t easy decisions to make, and many young people face significant challenges as they make them – challenges amplified by the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on their education, job prospects, health and home life.
Our Pass tackles these challenges head on. Membership not only improves accessibility to jobs and learning through free bus travel – essential to those who couldn’t otherwise afford it – but through its membership opens up a world of experiences, connections and opportunities that they might otherwise not discover. Our Pass broadens the horizons of our young people, in every sense.
To access the exclusives offers and experiences, young people must first apply to become an Our Pass member. Once they receive their travel card, they can use their unique card number to set up a website account on ourpass.co.uk
Young people get access to a constantly changing series of offers, discounts, events and experiences that are only open to Our Pass members. The Our Pass website also lists other events that are open to all but may be of interest to members.
For further information see https://ourpass.co.uk/faqs/
England has now moved to Step 3 of the government’s roadmap out of Lockdown. The main changes from Monday 17 May affecting travel are that indoor hospitality venues (such as restaurants, pubs, bars and cafés), cinemas, theatres and other similar attractions can reopen. People will also be able to attend indoor and outdoor events. These changes will mean that the public transport and road networks are likely to become busier.
Students should cycle or walk if they can. However, students travelling by public transport should:
For further information visit https://tfgm.com/coronavirus