‘The Bus’ Community Safety Project is a voluntary initiative that has just finished its first year.  Designed to assist any person in need around Torquay's Harbour side area by night, it is a first point of contact for those suffering the effects of drink or drugs or whose well-being is threatened by: inability to get home, illness or injury, emotional distress, or other vulnerability.

Overview of Project

The project takes the form of a refitted single decker bus outfitted to operate as a static minor injuries clinic and is located on the harbourside area of Torquay on a seasonal basis.  The Bus was present throughout the last Christmas and New Year period, as well as on Friday and Saturday nights (Sundays on Bank Holidays) from April 14^th to September 16^th 2006.  

The project is manned by a mixture of volunteers from the wider public and several professional staff, including a dedicated team leader, paramedic, fire brigade driver and security officer.

Results

Throughout the first year 138 persons were presented on The Bus for a range of reasons.  These included those suffering the effects of drink or drugs, unwell or other medical reason, unable to get home, victims of crime, homeless or simply in need of advice.  All these people were provided with a safe haven and assistance.      

As evidenced by its first year results ‘The Bus’ has lived up to its potential to make the nightime experience in Torbay a safer one for resident and visitor alike.  It has also cut down on alcohol related attendances at the Accident and Emergency Department and freed up the police and other emergency services to deal with other instances around the Bay.  

The Future

The Bus will be re-launched in time on the 8^th December 2006 and will run through to New Years Eve.  It will then break and will re-start in April 2007, delivering on a weekend basis throughout the summer.  The times of delivery will be from 11pm to 3am.

As a voluntary initiative The Bus is always on the look out for more volunteers and contributions.  If you feel you would like to become part of the team or to make a donation to the project then the Project Co-ordinator Mark Richards on the contact information provided. Full training and induction provided.

The Bus is a multi-agency project that counts Safer Communities Torbay, Stagecoach Devon, Westcountry Ambulance Trust, Devon Fire & Rescue, Torbay Care Trust, Torbay Development Agency and Torquay Marina amongst its many partners.

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Related Documents

The Bus - Year One Evaluation

The Bus - Year 1 Results

Volunteer Job Description

To view any published Related Documents for this service you will require the appropriate software. To download this software please see our documents help page. All links to documents will open in a new window. To request documents and files in an alternative format please contact us using the contact information provided on this page.