SOS Bus Information

The SOS Bus and caravan were made available to the project by Proclaimers International free of charge. The Evening News, a local newspaper, highlighted the need for the project and asked for donations. They also published a list of requirements and local businesses and individuals donated money and equipment to the project. Staff for the bus were seconded from the Police, YMCA, Matthew Project and Proclaimers International. The Norfolk Youth and Community Service gave a worker to the bus at a reduced rate. St John Ambulance supplied two first-aiders on an expenses only agreement. The SOS Bus costs approximatley 30,000 a year to run. This includes staff wages for paid staff, staff training, SOS Bus clothing, refreshments for the team and the costs of running and maintaining the bus, support vehicle and support unit. There is also the running of the first aid centre and the cost of first aid equipment. Since the initial six-month pilot project the general public have continued to hold various fund raising events and give donations to the bus. Norwich nightclubs and businesses have also held fund raising events and a donations bucket is kept on the bus for clients to donate to the project. As the project is a registered charity donations can be gift-aided. In April 2002 the government recognised the work of the SOS Bus and provided a grant for the project, some of this money was used to purchase the projects' own support vehicle.