Two hard-hitting adverts created by school pupils from Oldham and Tameside will be broadcast on radio and across social media to raise awareness of the impact of anti-social behaviour on Metrolink.
Droylsden’s Fairfield High School for Girls and the Oldham Limeside Oasis Academy beat off stiff competition from schools across Greater Manchester to produce winning radio and TV commercials about the consequences of bad behaviour on Metrolink.
Fairfield High School for Girls’ commercial – “Stop, think, take pride in your Metrolink!” – has been professionally produced is now airing on local radio stations across Greater Manchester.
And pupils at Oasis Academy will see their dramatic and fun video commercial – showing how copycat behaviour and fare evasion could leave Metrolink with no money left to run services – run as a sponsored advert on Facebook.
The campaign will encourage people across the region to find out more about the impact and consequences of bad behaviour and fare evasion on Metrolink at www.metrolink.co.uk.
TfGM’s Metrolink Director, Peter Cushing, said: “The impact of anti-social behaviour and fare dodging on Metrolink is far-reaching and these commercials drive the message home in a really engaging way.
“If passengers don’t pay for travel it means less income to run and improve the tram service. We are working closely with Greater Manchester Police to crack down on any anti-social behaviour across the network, and will prosecute where appropriate.
“It’s great to see young people get involved with these issues and I’m sure people across the region will enjoy their commercials, and hopefully, think twice about their behaviour on Metrolink.”
Last year Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) invited more than 250 schools in areas along the tram network to use an online toolkit to create an advert about the consequences of bad behaviour on Metrolink.
The winning pupils also enjoyed a family day out at HOME – Manchester’s international centre for contemporary visual art, theatre and film – where Fairfield High School for Girls’ winning commercial was shown on the big screen last month.
Following successful engagement with schools and pupils, TfGM is now planning to roll-out the competition to schools in other areas across the tram network.
