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A 17-year dream come true

The CHAT (Community, Health, Advice and Training) bus has landed. The vision of Age Concern Isle of Man and Isle of Man Newspapers transformed into reality through funding and support from local organisations and individuals, the bus arrived in Douglas on the Steam Packet vessel Manannan to be received by a team from Age Concern headed by chief executive Penny Creighton MBE.  
 
The bus, which will soon be connecting communities across the Island,  
has full heating and air-conditioning, disabled access, LED lighting, tinted windows, a lounge area, kitchenette and a private meeting room/IT-suite capable of accommodating six users. There is also a seven-metre remote electric external awning and outside seating.
 
The vehicle was purchased and equipped with funding and support from the people of the Isle of Man, Age Concern Isle of Man, Isle of Man Newspapers, Microgaming Hospital Trust, PokerStars, King William’s College, the Gough Ritchie Trust, Manx Telecom, Manx National Heritage and Barclays Wealth.  
 
It began life as a bus owned by Protours Isle of Man that was surplus to requirements. The company had intended to sell the bus for around £30,000 but offered it to Age Concern for £10,000. Protours has also agreed to garage the vehicle for free and maintain it at cost.  
 
The Steam Packet provided a discounted fare for transporting the bus to the Island and a driver/host has been appointed. Conversion of the vehicle was carried out by South East Coachworks of Faversham in Kent. The company’s Chris Bichard said: ‘We’re delighted Age Concern Isle of Man selected South East Coachworks as its preferred supplier. This gave us the opportunity to meet with Penny Creighton and her team, and as Penny is such a true ambassador for the Isle of Man we had the benefit of learning much about the Island from her.
 
‘As clients Age Concern Isle of Man have been gracious and understanding. The conversion was not time-sensitive, unlike most of our commissions, which gave our apprentices an opportunity to hone their skills and take their time on a conversion of which we are very proud – a vehicle where the whole interior and electrics are powered by silent and environmentally-friendly inverter and gel batteries. Our thanks go to Penny and her team, Veronica, Mike, Maureen, Gillian and Carol, who all helped put together artwork, source sponsors’ logos and secure the funds to bring the project to such a successful conclusion. We hope that South East Coachworks will not be strangers to the Isle of Man and we wish the project all the success it deserves.’
 
Age Concern Isle of Man’s chief executive Penny Creighton MBE said: ‘What began as a joint venture between us and Isle of Man Newspapers to raise funds for a “tea pot” bus that would travel around the Island and reach out to local communities has come of age and grown from its initial concept into something infinitely more ambitious.’
 
An early campaign supported by Isle of Man Newspapers raised £23,000 - a sum that would only buy an older vehicle coming towards the end of its useful life.  Research by Age Concern indicated that a figure in the region of £80,000 would be needed for a bus of the ‘gold standard’ required by the charity. ‘That’s how the idea of the CHAT bus was born - a bus that would serve the local community in many different ways, but at the same time would remain faithful to the original “tea pot” concept.  And thanks to the generosity of Microgaming Hospital Trust which donated £60,000 and others our vision is now a reality. In addition to providing financial support ourselves, we received a grant from the Gough Ritchie Trust and a £5000 donation from PokerStars. We also received a donation of £1000 from a client of our Reayrt ny Baie day care centre and £500 from the son of one of our Peel day care centre clients,’ said Mrs Creighton.
 
Some, but not all, of the bus’s running costs – expected to be around £55,000 a year - will be absorbed through Age Concern’s income streams. The charity is looking to secure additional sponsorship and funding and is offering the bus for hire for a daily rate of £250 plus VAT.
 
Mrs Creighton said: ‘The CHAT bus has the power to bring people of different generations and communities together and it’s thanks to the generosity of so many private individuals and organisations that our 17-year dream has come true.’
 
The CHAT bus will be officially unveiled to sponsors and supporters on Friday April 30 at 12noon at the Hilton Hotel, Douglas.