Pupils from across Greater Manchester have hit back at anti-social behaviour and fare evasion on Metrolink with a series of TV and radio commercials.
Fourteen adverts – produced by ten schools in Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale and Ashton-under-Lyne are now online on YouTube.
The 60-second commercials have been shortlisted by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) in a creative competition to help educate young people about the effects and consequences of bad behaviour on Metrolink.
The shortlisted entries range from dramas showing the impact of peer pressure to hard-hitting public service announcements, songs, catchy jingles (“Before you do it stop and think, work together, save the Metrolink!”) and a ‘telephone-a-friend’ style quiz on “what you get for fare dodging”.

TfGM teamed up with digital engagement agency ucreate to invite schools in areas along the tram network most affected by anti-social behaviour to take part.

With the aid of an online toolkit, pupils aged between nine and 14 years old (years five to nine) worked with their teachers to learn more about Metrolink while creating their very own advert.

TfGM’s Metrolink Director, Peter Cushing, said: “It’s great to see young people really engaging with these serious issues and clearly having fun at the same time. There are some really creative commercials here and I’m sure the future of advertising is safe in Greater Manchester!

“Educating people at a young age is the key to prevention and through this competition we’ve reached hundreds of school children. I’m sure every single one of them will think twice about what they’ve learnt next time they catch the tram.”

Schoolchildren will have the chance to see the three most popular commercials on the big screen later this month at HOME, Manchester’s international centre for contemporary visual art, theatre and film, where the overall winner will be announced. Jason Wood, Artistic Director:Film, HOME, will sit on the judging panel.

The winning schoolchildren will receive cinema tickets, Metrolink day tickets and restaurant vouchers for themselves and two adults for Sunday 13 December – HOME’s Big Family Day – where their advert will run as a trailer at selected screenings.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here