Pupils on track with tram ads

PUPILS from Oldham have hit back at anti-social behaviour and fare dodging on Metrolink with a series of TV and radio commercials.

Adverts produced by Oasis Academy, Failsworth School and eight other schools across Greater Manchester are now 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 the tram network.

Shortlisted entries range from dramas showing the impact of peer pressure to hard-hitting public service announcements, songs, catchy jingles and a quiz on what you get for fare dodging.

TfGM teamed up with digital engagement agency Ucreate to invite schools in areas most affected by anti-social behaviour on trams to take part.

Pupils aged between nine and 14 worked with their teachers to learn more about Metrolink while creating their 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 at HOME, Manchester’s international centre for contemporary visual art, theatre and film.

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

TfGM will now look at rolling out the competition to schools in other areas across the Greater Manchester tram network.

Like www.facebook.com/transportforgreatermanchester and follow @OfficialTfGM on Twitter for more information.