Arriva treated three lucky community groups across the UK to a free day out over the school holidays after launching their Summer Day Out competition.
The competition, which originally launched to celebrate Catch the Bus Week, (2nd-8th July) invited the public to nominate local community groups which they believed deserved to win a free day out to a Merlin Entertainments attraction.
Arriva encouraged all types of local groups to enter including; Scouts and Girl Guide groups, arts and community clubs, as well as youth and elderly community groups.
A staggering number of nominations were received following searches in several Arriva regions across the country, including the North West & Wales, North East & Yorkshire, and the South East, to find and reward a local community groups for their contribution to the community.
Once all nominations were received, a panel of Arriva judges then deliberated over all applications and whittled it down to a shortlist of three groups from each participating region which were then put to a public vote. 8,000 votes later and three lucky groups were crowned the winners of the Summer Day Out competition.
North West & Wales winners, Fingerpost Community Group from St Helens, won the competition and enjoyed an extra special day out in Blackpool in August. Whilst there, the group visited the SEA LIFE Centre and the famous Blackpool Tower, where 40
lucky day-trippers enjoyed taking photographs of the view from the top.
In the South East, it was a Kent Girlguiding group who enjoyed a prize day out courtesy of Arriva. 1st Chatham North Rainbows, Brownies and Guides were treated to an exciting trip to Chessington World of Adventures where 34 girls aged between 5 and 17 put their nerves to the test on a series of thrilling rollercoasters.
The group received over 5,000 votes.
The North East and Yorkshire prize was won by a children’s community group who enjoyed an extra special day out at SEA LIFE Scarborough. Starz Community Group, who are based in Middlesbrough. The 30 children from Starz Community Group, aged between 5 and 16, also enjoyed an afternoon on the beach in the heat of the summer sun.
Julie Linforth, Marketing Director for Arriva commented:“We wanted to launch our Summer Day Out competition in partnership with Catch the Bus Week to show members of the public just how fun taking the bus can be, as it’s such a great time of year to remind people that the bus is an easy, cost-effective and stress-freeway for families to travel to fun local attractions.”
