Bringing play to children’s doorsteps in a big purple bus

Gaunless Gateway Big Local includes about 18,000 residents from six neighbourhoods, spread over a three-mile radius. In this very rural area south-west of Bishop Auckland, the partnership were looking for new ways to provide facilities for children, but the area lacked suitable facilities or organisations that could serve the whole area. 

A playbus hired and paid for through the local parish council had been offering free supervised sessions in West Auckland for 2–11 year olds. The bus’s mobility meant sessions could be brought right to people’s doorsteps making them popular and accessible. But the parish council was not in a position to keep paying for the playbus. So, when a local bus owner offered his bus to the parish council for £5000, Lynn took the idea to Gaunless Gateway Big Local, for use across all six parts of the area. 

Keen to make the playbus their own, the partnership developed a business plan which included bringing in additional partners such as local schools. The bus benefits from local ​‘sponsors’: trusted individuals (Chair of Big Local) and local groups (parish council) with credibility to take temporary responsibility and act as contacts for the DVLA. Energy invested in building relationships means the bus is housed securely and for free by a company in the local area.

The sustainability of the bus as a business rather than a grant funded service relies on it being adopted by the community, local schools, businesses, individuals. We cannot underestimate that challenge. However, someone once said we should never doubt that a few committed citizens can change the world. The energy, drive and determination demonstrated by key passionate individuals was truly inspiring.

The purple playbus, also known as Polly, is a 30-year-old double decker bus that has been specially fitted out as a fully mobile soft play area. The Big Purple Play Bus is suitable for children from toddlers up to about 10 years old, it offers a safe and warm environment for children to play and explore, and for parents to meet and chat. It is staffed by fully qualified youth workers who hold enhanced DBS checks and first aid qualifications. 

Big Local funding was used to transform and maintain the look of the bus so it presents as a ​‘quality’ product but still has a community feel. Branding on the bus advertises Gaunless Gateway Big Local thus raising the profile of the project. Hopefully this builds willingness to volunteer; a potential step on a pathway to paid sessional work and employment. 

While the children enjoy play and craft activities, parents and carers access information and services such as accident prevention, dental health, budgeting, food distribution. The bus can be hired for events such as children’s parties, thus providing an income stream to support its sustainability. 

Other areas may find local authorities have similar community assets that they can no longer fund and might gift to a community group!

Since the bus has been in operation, it has attended many events in the community, private parties and lots of local schools to entertain over 2,500 children a year. Having the play bus in the community has allowed for lots of community interaction and Gaunless Gateway Big Local has consulted residents to find out what they want to see in the area.

The bus went round to see residents at Christmas and Santa came to visit local children one Sunday morning just before Christmas with over 300 children and families. Auckland Youth and Community Centre Ltd (AYCC) – the only youth provider in South of County Durham – took over the management of the Big Purple Play Bus in July 2018. With the kind support of the Gaunless Gateway Big Local they were able to create a job for a local West Auckland resident and provide an amazing resource to be used in the local communities and beyond.