Students team up with Mayor to save the Tiger Bus Pass
On Thursday 18th of December, Charlotte Smith, Social Action & Enrichment Coordinator, along with four students: Safa Darr, Jeffrey Asomani, Amna Rushdhi, and Ryan Nyazamba, attended the Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority Board Meeting to secure another year of funding for the Tiger Pass, which will be extended until March 2027.
The Tiger Pass is a scheme offering £1 bus travel for under-25s. Discounted travel can be a lifeline for many young people across the UK.
Before the board meeting began, Ryan presented Mayor Paul Bristow with a Tiger teddy which sat at his desk for the duration of the board meeting. Additionally, Jeffrey gave him a copy of the report on why the Tiger Pass is important to young people, which included testimonies from young people interviewed across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, as well as an open letter to the mayor supported by a variety of educational leaders and allies, including Steve Dann. Finally, Safa asked Paul if he would come to Long Road in the new year to talk to students about the Tiger Pass, which he happily committed to.
The campaign’s success was featured on ITV News Anglia, with student leader Safa explaining how vital the Tiger Pass is to young people’s access to opportunities and Social Action and Enrichment Coordinator Charlotte Smith sharing the impact this scheme has had on the students at Long Road.
This is a brilliant example of how students at Long Road Sixth Form College can be involved with broad-based organising and can campaign for something in their personal interest and have a county-wide impact.
We look forward to continuing our work with Cambridge Citizens, the Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority and Mayor Paul Bristow to ensure that young people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have access to affordable and sustainable travel.
