from Stuart Christian, Operations Manager of Bar’N’Bus
Dear Supporters We did it!!!! Thank you to everyone who voted for Bar’N’Bus with the Natwest Community Force. We came within the TOP THREE (just) of all who win. Thanks to you we will be receiving £6,225 which is much needed. Please pass on our thanks to others who you have asked to vote. The scheme will run again next year so hopefully we can win again. A huge thanks Stuart Christian A total of 5813 projects entered for a chance to win the grants… This is what Community Force says (taken from their email) As you will know, in July this year we launched CommunityForce and asked local charities and projects to take part and apply. In September, we invited members of the public to get involved and vote for the projects and charities they felt were making a big difference in their communities. In total more than 360,000 votes were cast for over 5,000 projects across England and Wales. We are delighted to tell you that the winners have now been announced. Visit natwest.com/communityforce* to find out if the projects you voted for have won a £6,000 CommunityForce award. What will happen next? We’re also delighted to announce that CommunityForce is working with Localgiving.com to help provide a sustainable future for local charities and community groups, by making it possible for you to find and give to these projects. To find out more about Localgiving.com click here. Thank you for continuing to support CommunityForce. Yours sincerely, * Keep clicking on the highlighted SW Essex projects until you get down to Bar’N’Bus, which is based in Benfleet. The bumph about the project reads: REACHING OUT TO YOUNG PEOPLE. Through the use of a converted double-decker bus equipped as a mobile youth club and with a team of dedicated local volunteers we are able to meet young people right where they hang out. What does your charity/project do? Our customised buses go out on a weekly basis during the evening to various locations throughout South East Essex. Facilities on the buses include a free coffee bar serving hot chocolate, tea and coffee, PS2 or Xbox, TV’s, videos, and safe comfy places for YOUNG PEOPLE to relax and chill out. The local volunteers on the bus provide the YOUNG PEOPLE with a listening ear, which helps to give them support and encouragement. How does your charity/project support the local community? With the recent images of mostly young people rioting on the streets of England this just goes to show what a need there is in reaching out to the YOUNG PEOPLE who cause this or who could potentially cause something similar in our local areas. YOUNG PEOPLE need help in how to channel their energy, gifts and talents into something positive and more importantly given self-worth. Our project has the support of local councils and Police as it helps to reduce Anti-social behaviour among YOUNG PEOPLE. What do you plan to use the CommunityForce award for? With it costing us just over £100 a night to get a bus out with a team of volunteers and with many of our exisiting funding resources closing or being cut back, the award would go a long way to contribute towards our running costs and keep the valuable work that we do ‘on the road’. >>> If you wish to volenteer for any of Thurrock’s three Bar’N’Bus teams (Corringham, Grays and West Thurrock), especially to drive the bus, then please contact Stuart Christian on stuchristian@barnbus.org.uk Pictures show the completed artwork on the Thurrock bus. |