Our Pass Opportunities

Our Pass will provide 16 to 18 year-olds (12/13^th academic year) in Greater Manchester with free bus travel alongside a wealth of sporting, cultural and leisure opportunities.

The pass is a two year pilot starting on September 1, 2019, led by Mayor Andy Burnham and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), with support from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM). The pass has been developed with Greater Manchester Youth Combined Authority (GMYCA), and a host of other youth organisations, groups, schools and colleges across the city-region who helped with the overall design and name of the pass.

Our Pass has been designed to support young people at a crucial point in their lives and aims to raise aspirations of all young people across Greater Manchester. It is a commitment to the opening up opportunities in the city region to young people.

This survey was used to ask young people across the city-region what opportunities they would like to be available with Our Pass and how opportunities should be allocated. We specifically asked:

• Which opportunities young people would be most/least likely to take up?
• What young people are interested in?
• Which apps young people use the most?
• Whether opportunities should be discounted as well as free?
• How opportunities should be allocated?

The survey was open from May, 9 and ran until June, 23 and was promoted across social media channels. Our Pass partnered with GMYCA and other youth work led partners to share the survey across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The survey received 662 responses overall, 94% of which were received by respondents aged 18 years or younger (the target audience for Our Pass).

The survey results gave an insight into opportunities most and least popular amongst young people. The top three opportunities respondents reported most likely to take-up being indoor leisure complexes, such as cinema and bowling (86%), restaurants (79%) and live music (67%), whereas the least popular included under-18 clubs and bars (58%), museums (44%) and watching sports (44%).

Respondents were also asked to rate their level of interest in a number of commodities. Food, music and clothes were rated the highest (all within 90%), with beauty, computer games and sports rating the lowest (all under 60%).

As well as interest, respondents were asked their thoughts on opportunity allocation. The vast majority of respondents (96%) believe that Our Pass should provide discounted shopping and vouchers, as well as opportunities. Additionally, 87% of respondents said they would be interested in discounted opportunities as well as free opportunities.

The results of the survey have been collated into a report and sent to the Our Pass Board who ultimately make decisions regarding Our Pass.

We’ve listened to the results and are currently developing Our Pass opportunities based on the results with businesses across Greater Manchester. Using the feedback, Our Pass has already developed a range of opportunities including:

Sports

• Manchester Giants (Basketball and Netball)
• Oldham Boxing and Personal Development Centre
• Challenge 4 Change
• Helly Henson Watersports Centre

Music and Culture

• Palace Theatre Manchester
• Manchester Opera House
• Parklife
• Hallé Orchestra

Additionally, as 96% believe that Our Pass should provide discounted shopping and vouchers as well as opportunities, Our Pass have officially partnered with JD Sports who are currently running a £50 gift card competition for young people who sign up for Our Pass before the launch in September and will continue to apply discounts to all Our Pass users.

Our Pass are currently encouraging other businesses across Greater Manchester to get involved for the launch of the pass on September 1.