The GAP Bus
In 2006 the Teenbridge Project acquired a converted Optare bus for use as a mobile youth centre in Teignbridge.
The story behind the bus is amazing.
Last year there was a request that we should try and get a mobile provision for rural areas to do youth activities in. We made the occasional application to funding organizations for money for a bus. Many said “no”, but thankfully several said “yes”.
In March 2006 I was in church in Teignmouth where a lady felt led to pray for us to get a bus, and a bus that would not cost the project anything. Yeah I thought, it happens to other people but never to us!!! “Oh ye of little faith”!
A couple of days later I was looking on a website and saw a bus that was already kitted out ready for use – it had been used by a youth project in Newbury that was closing down. I t had a generator, playstations, TV, stereo, first aid kit, mobile ‘phone – in effect it was ready for use.
I telephoned and emailed to find out more information and more importantly to get a price - £150.00 was the reply… what’s wrong with it? I asked . “Nothing, we want it to be used and to go to a good home”
After quickly arranging a driver we set off to Newbury and came back with a bus!
So was the prayer answered? did it cost anything?
We paid £150, but the bus was full of fuel – (over £150 worth), the generator was full of fuel (over £30) and a day later we had received an anonymous donation for £150, & within two weeks we had received over £2000! Since then the organisation we bought it from has given us just under £2000!
We paid £150 and have the bus and nearly £2000 cash back PRAYER ANSWERED!
Why have we called it the GAP Bus?
Firstly – it will fill a gap in youth provision for young people in rural areas.
Secondly it reminds us that God Answers Prayers
Thirdly it is a reminder that it is God’s Awesome Provision.
Comments from young people:
“It’s warm”
“Gives us something to do”
“It’s got music, playstations, laptops, dance mats & TV”
“ It was cool!!!”
“Without it we have nothing to look forward to”
“We’re bored without it”!!
“The highlight of our week”
What other people say:
Youth worker
“It give us somewhere to meet the young people and provide positive and diversionary activities, whilst staff are seen as positive role models.”
Police/PCSO
“I am a support officer & have been speaking to young people in Heathfield. They stated that they mainly get into trouble in the area because there is nothing to do, but stated that last Wednesday they enjoyed it very much when the bus came into the area for a few hours. They stated they would love it to come more often to the area which would keep them out of trouble.”
Parent
“Its great for the young people to have something to do – there’s nothing to do round here”.
Richard Younger Ross MP
“It is a fantastic resource in this area”.
In July 2007 we received the disappointing news that the bus was uneconomic to repair & it looked as though the GAP Bus ministry would come to an end. Mel Stride the prospective candidate for Mid Devon heard of our plight & made contact with Stagecoach & they contacted us to say they had a bus we could have on permanent loan.
The work in all of the areas where TBP operates has been transformed with the arrival of our new GAP bus we have taken out and rearranged the seats and fix in a drink station, sound system.
The bus has TVs PS2, Wii, as well as board games & other activities to do.
Sadly at the end of summer 2007 we received the news that it would be uneconomical for us to repair the chassis of the GAP bus. The decision was made to take it out of service - this was a huge blow to the work in Heathfield & Bovey Tracey.
HOWEVER….
we were approached by Mel Stride the Prospective Conservative candidate for Mid Devon who thought he might be able to help us. He said he would approach ‘Stagecoach’ to see if they would donate a bus for us to use.
Imagine our delight when we had an email from the local Area Director saying that they were keen to support the Teenbridge Project’s work, would loan us a bus on a permanent basis, & when it was no longer economical to repair they would take it back & give us another one to replace it!
Since we took delivery of it we have been working hard to convert it for use—changing seating patterns, adding lights, sockets, & a hot drinks bar—making it more suitable for our use. We had an interesting time getting it MOT’d & re classed as no-one was really sure what category it should be under, but in the end this was resolved.
We got it back out on the road in February going to Kingsteignton, Heathfield & Starcross. so please watch out for it—& pray for safety for all who use it.
The programme for the GAP bus plans to be Heathfield on Tuesday evenings, Kingsteignton Tuesday & Friday after school, Starcross on Thursday evenings & Bovey on Fridays.
We have received some funding from O2 to help equip the bus with Playstation , mobile DJ decks, Wii & some board games. Since we have brought it back into action it has been very well received.
In March we were fortunate to be allocated some funding from the Community Safety Partnership to take the bus out & this we have been able to do.
The bus is an amazing tool—but it is only as good as the people working on it. The bus may attract the young people but it is the workers who build up the relationships and the trust that brings them back week after week.
If we had enough workers we could make use of it at weekend afternoons and the other days of the week too!!!
