Our Pass bolsters education and opportunity for young people in Greater Manchester

More than 50,000 young people are benefitting from free travel to college, work and to meet up with family and friends through Greater Manchester’s Our Pass, which grants unlimited free bus travel to 16 to 18-year-olds.

First introduced in 2019, 170,000 young people have benefitted from the pass, which also provides discounted tram travel and exclusive offers and experiences: discounts, special offers, free tickets, swimming and leisure passes, merchandise, taster sessions and much more.

One of those benefitting is 17-year-old Chinemelum Chinyelugo (pictured), a student at Trinity Sixth Form College, who uses Our Pass to get to college and meet friends. He said:

“Studying full time can be difficult because you afford most things you’d like to do. Our Pass helps me manage by finances and saves me well over £50 a month, which is a substantial amount as a student.

“Our Pass means free bus travel to and from my college. It allows me to manage my time, go out meet up with my friends, revise better and keep up the good grades!”

Ms Cottrell, Head of Year 13 at Trinity Sixth Form College said:

“Our Pass offers great travel for students who travel far and wide to attend Trinity, it takes the financial burden off parents – some of our students are catching two buses, without Our Pass they would struggle.

“It also allows students to travel to their work placements and to events outside school.”

Ed Curry Senior Service Manager at the Growth Company for Our Pass said:

“Our Pass enables Greater Manchester’s young people to choose the post-16 destination that’s right for them, without it having to be local to where they live, and without being reliant on their family or personal income.

“As well as the travel benefits, young people have access to a wide range of freebies, discounts and experiences, known as Our Pass Exclusives, which broaden their horizons and give them the opportunity to experience what Greater Manchester has to offer.”

Greater Manchester is the first area to bring buses back under local control in 40 years, and as a result is able to shape services so they better meet the needs of people across the city region, with a focus on making them more punctual, accessible and affordable.

Making travel affordable is a key part of the Bee Network and alongside Our Pass there are a range of value fares that help people and families go further for less, including new lower fares for 7 and 28-day bus travel, continuation of the £2 single fare and a new best-value annual bus pass, providing unlimited travel on all Bee Network buses for just £2.20 a day.