Whether its reading spaces, quiet places or somewhere to meet new faces, people are being asked to submit their ideas for a chance to win a free decommissioned yellow school bus this summer.
From Monday 17th May, individuals, schools, community groups, sports teams and volunteer organisations can bid to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to win one of several yellow school buses that will be decommissioned from the existing fleet in July 2021.
Interested groups have until Friday 18th June to submit their proposal online before the applications are considered and the winning entries announced.
Entries will be judged on several criteria, including originality, creativity and benefit to the community.
The competition has been set up to run once again following the success of similar schemes in summer 2019 and 2018.
In 2019, six buses were donated to various bidders, including Red Lane Primary School in Bolton. They turned their donated vehicle into a 'Wellbeing bus' and currently use it as a dedicated space to provide social and emotional intervention for their pupils.
Similarly, St. Stephen's RC Primary School – another 2019 recipient – turned their bus into a reading area and tutoring place that has proven to be incredibly popular with pupils.
In 2018, the first decommissioned bus was delivered to Greswell Primary School in Denton. Using lottery funding, the school transformed the bus into an outdoor library that is used by both students and the wider community.
