A Family Support Worker from China organised a special fact-finding visit before Christmas with the Community Bus Project at their depot in Radstock.

Ms Chan Yu Ling, a Team Leader for the Kowloon City Family Support Centre in Hong Kong, read about the ‘Big Blue Bus’ while researching community play projects on the internet. She contacted Mel Clarke, the Community Bus Administrator, and the visit was agreed.

“It was lovely to hear from a community worker based in Hong Kong,” said Mel. “Her email said they were looking to share experiences and good practice for play bus projects and they were impressed by the work portrayed on our website.”

Ms Ling, who prefers to be called Lincoln, is employed by the Salvation Army alongside her husband, who is a youth worker, at the same centre in Hong Kong. They combined a short UK holiday with their work mission.

“Lincoln told us how they were trying to reach children and their families in the crammed high rises of Hong Kong City centre,” said Anne Marie Jovcic-Sas, Chair of the local Community Bus Project.

“They wanted to offer outdoor play opportunities for parents and children to interact positively outside of the confined space they live in, so a mobile facility like ours might be just the ticket.”

The B&NES Big Blue Bus, which is managed by a local charity, has been touring the area for nearly thirty years in various guises and is currently converting its fourth bus, largely thanks to another grant from the National Lottery.

Every bus had a name – first was Bertha, then Doris and the current to-be-retired bus is called Lottie, after its main funder. Parents and children are currently being consulted on a suitable name for the new bus, which is expected to go into service later this year.

“One of the main things that impressed our visitors from China was the dedication of our volunteers,” said Anne Marie. “Many of us are parents whose children used the bus and now we are giving something back by being on the committee.

“But we are a small charity and need some fresh volunteers to keep us going for another thirty years.”

Anybody interested in learning more about helping the Big Blue Bus can email:

[email protected] or phone: 01761 419557.