School Kids Target Tram Troublemakers
Metrolink bosses have called on school children in the region to help raise awareness and combat anti-social behaviour on the tram network. Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) invited more than 250 schools in areas along the 92-stop tram network to use an online toolkit and create an advert about the consequences of bad behaviour on Metrolink------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
59 entries were received and today, dozens of pupils from four shortlisted schools saw their 60-second commercials on the big screen at HOME – Manchester’s international centre for contemporary visual art, theatre and film.
At the mini-Oscars, Droylsden’s Fairfield High School for Girls picked up the winning prize for their hard-hitting radio commercial about the penalties for fare evasion – “Stop, think, take pride in your Metrolink!” – which won a social media challenge after their entry exceeded more than 2,000 views on YouTube.
The winning schoolchildren will see their advert run as a trailer at selected screenings on HOME’s Big Family Day on Sunday 13 December, after picking up Metrolink day tickets, restaurant vouchers and cinema tickets for themselves and family and friends to see family comedy ‘Bill’.
Oldham’s Oasis Academy also picked up a special judges award for artistic merit. Pupils will also get cinema tickets for family and friends for their dramatic and fun TV commercial, showing how copycat behaviour and fare evasion could leave Metrolink with no money left to run services.
Entries from Manchester’s Whalley Range High School and Wythenshawe’s St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary were also shortlisted.
TfGM’s Metrolink Director, Peter Cushing, said: “The standard of all the commercials has been remarkable, with great creative approaches from each group and some fantastic straplines, including the winning ‘Stop, think, take pride in your Metrolink!’
“Educating people at a young age is the key to prevention and through this competition we’ve reached hundreds of school children. It’s clear that they’ve really understood the potentially life-changing consequences of breaking the law on Metrolink.
“It’s great to see they’ve had fun and learnt new digital skills that will stand them in good stead in the future. Congratulations to the winning schools.”
Jason Wood, Artistic Director: Film, HOME, added: “I think it is very important to provide young people with opportunities to express themselves creatively and this has been a wonderful project and event in many respects. It’s been inspiring to see all these creative and high-standard film entries, and I’ve really enjoyed forming part of the judging panel.”
Mark Matthews from ucreate, said: “This unique media project has helped young people understand important issues in an innovative, fun and creative way.
“They’ve been able to use modern technology such as their phone, tablet or PC to demonstrate their understanding and to share their work on social networks with friends and family.”
Following the successful engagement with schools and pupils, TfGM will now look at rolling out the competition to schools in other areas across the tram network.