Earlier this year Xaverian College welcomed the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who was joined by Transport for Greater Manchester and various other local business leaders, to announce that young people with an Our Pass membership can now access an exclusive Greater Manchester cycle hire scheme offer during March, April and May.
This new offer coincides with the launch of a new app, to make it easier for young people to access free and discounted culture and leisure opportunities across the city-region.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Young people need our support more than ever, especially during this ongoing period of increased cost of living crisis. I want to give young people an extra helping hand and I’m pleased we’ve been able to work with Transport for Greater Manchester and Beryl Bikes to bring this generous offer to Our Pass members.”
Students from Xaverian, many of whom access the Our Pass scheme, which gives Greater Manchester’s 16–18-year-olds, and care leavers aged 18-21 years access to free bus travel and discounted tram travel, were given the opportunity to share their experiences of using Our Pass and the benefits it has brought to them.
Oliwia Felinska, 18, from Stretford, said: “Our Pass has opened up so many doors for me! Saving money is great bonus, but it is only one of the benefits. Having the freedom to travel anywhere around Greater Manchester, with my friends, has provided us with unlimited opportunities!”
Reiss Crane, 17, from Manchester said: “Our Pass had made travelling to College so much easier than I ever imagined. I have to get two buses into College, but I can jump on any that are running, which means I don’t have to worry about the time of day or the cost!”
Toby Oliver, 18, from Stockport, said: “Having Our Pass has allowed me to travel to and from the city centre at any time of day, which has not only enriched my social life, but allowed me to widen my study opportunities. Without Our Pass my College experience would have been much more stressful due to the expense of using buses.”
When the cost of travel is removed as a barrier, young people are able to broaden their horizons, access a wider range of educational opportunities and feel more empowered to explore all that the city region has to offer.
Year 11 students can apply for their Our Pass from 2nd May. All information can be found online at ourpass.co.uk.
As one of the largest providers of post-16 education in the region, Xaverian College offers exciting opportunities to over 2800 students. To find out more, visit Xaverian.ac.uk – Discover Your Future!