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, Playstation's, 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!
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.