Students and pupils pick Arriva tickets for Connexions rewards

Youngsters are choosing bus tickets alongside free mobile phonetexts and revision study guides as their 'rewards' in theGovernment's Connexions Card project.

By attending school, college or work based training, 16 to 19year olds can earn points every week which can then be redeemed forrewards, including the opportunity to receive a free Arriva 'GoAnywhere' ticket.

And if rewards continue to be claimed at the same ratethroughout 2006 'Go Anywhere' tickets will account for 1 millionpoints – a staggering 10,000 weeks of attendance by studentsand pupils!

Mike Woodhouse, marketing manager for Arriva's UK Bus division,said:

We know that many of our customers' first experience ofbus travel is when going to school or to college and so we weredelighted to join the Connexions Card reward scheme. We see it as agreat opportunity to encourage young people to use public transportfor more journeys, and do their bit to help easecongestion.

The Arriva 'Go Anywhere' ticket allows our customers tocombine journeys on Arriva buses in more than one of our regions orto use Arriva bus services at either end of a journey integratingwith other modes of travel. We are surprised but delighted that ithas now topped the league as the most requested reward fromConnexions Card users.

The Connexions Card also acts as a proof of age card and isdesigned to encourage more young people to remain in learning afterthe age of 16. Available to all 16-19 year-olds in England, over600,000 young people have a Connexions Card. Cardholders can alsoget numerous high street discounts just by showing their Card.

Catherine Logan, director of marketing at Connexions Card,said:

The popularity of this reward shows that young peoplevalue public transport and that reducing the cost of this is a realincentive for them.

Notes to editors

• Arriva's 'Go Anywhere' ticket is not available on Arriva busservices in London, special excursion buses such as Dales Bus;Green Line coach services or The Original London Sightseeing Tour.For full details of exemptions, or for timetable and map detailsfor journey planning, customers can access Arriva's website onwww.arrivabus.co.uk
• The Connexions Card is a unique initiative that offers rewardsand incentives to young people aged 16-19 as a means of encouragingthem to remain in post-16 learning. The project is an importantpart of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) aim ofincreasing levels of participation and attainment in post-16learning. Following successful pilot-testing from July 1999, theConnexions Card was rolled-out across England on a regional basisand is now available nationally. Find more information on theConnexions Card at www.connexionscard.com .