New site announced for homeless aid in Milton Keynes as charity retires famous bus

The homeless bus offered a safe space for people to sleep who would otherwise be on the streets. But with COVID-19 restrictions discouraging communal sleeping within homeless shelters, the charity needed to adapt to the pandemic.

The Bus Shelter MK has moved to a new permanent home in Stantonbury after being temporarily put up at the YHA in Bradwell. Previously the homeless bus operated out of a temporary site in Campbell Park in collaboration with the Milton Keynes Council.

Dave Pickering, vice chair of The Bus Shelter MK, discussed the difficulties the charity has faced during the pandemic.

“We really struggled to find an alternative site to Colgrain Street, Campbell Park and feared we might have to close our invaluable service," he said.

"We were relieved and delighted when the Council offered us a long term lease on a redundant Landscaping Depot and The Parks Trust kindly leased us an adjoining tract of land to make the site viable."

The main challenge for the grassroots charity that began in 2017 was making the site viable as a place that could offer a warm home for nine adults experiencing homelessness who needed a base to rebuild their lives from.

Beyond COVID, the other major factor in retiring the homeless bus and not bringing the iconic mobile home to Campbell Park was its age. The former tour bus was built in 1982 and had picked up natural wear and tear over the years.

The Bus Shelter MK credit work from other charities, such as the Masonic Charitable Trust and the John Apthorp Charity, for building a COVID secure sleeping pod designed by Coventry based company, Doodle Build. The pod will replace the bus and provide comfortable, separate bedrooms in line with coronavirus regulations.

Mr Pickering further outlined the difficulties in getting the new site ready during a pandemic, he added: “This has been a tough year to undertake such a mammoth project.

"With our fundraising income down 86% this year due to Covid-19 we've really needed to keep costs as low as possible. Many generous suppliers offered special pricing and others provided their services for free, which has been crucial to getting this project over the line. We are so thankful for all their support."

The new site and innovative sleeping pod brings the number of bed spaces up to nine and provides more suitable facilities for female guests. The charity continues to welcome dogs and now can follow the guidance of the Dogs Trust in allowing the dog to sleep with their owner rather than in a separate kennel.

The Bus Shelter MK has helped 75 people who would otherwise have been sleeping rough on the streets and helps its guests find work and settle into a new home. One former guest described his experiences on the homeless bus, stating: "I can sleep, I can eat, I can wash my clothes. I feel like a human again."