Stagecoach East Midlands’ community bus, Hattie,
will be visiting Doncaster, Sheffield and Barnsley as part of her tour of
Yorkshire to celebrate National Inclusion Week.
Hattie will be
at Doncaster Market on Friday 28 September from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
Hattie, one of
the original Skegness Seasiders retired from service in June, and was
transformed into a community bus, kitted out with seating areas, tea and coffee
making facilities, games and activities. She is supporting Stagecoach East
Midlands in their efforts to bring communities together and promote health and
well-being around the area.
Originally
launched to benefit Stagecoach employees, the health and well-being scheme has
grown in size and now extends to providing the public with access to
information through a variety of events. Hattie plays a key role in helping to
deliver this to the wider community providing a comfortable backdrop for the
events.
The day will
include talks from local historians, singing, dancing and craft activities for
visitors to get involved in, as well as plenty of free tea and cakes. At the
event, Stagecoach are teaming up with local charity Lets b:Friend to highlight
the issue of isolation and loneliness in the community.
Doncaster-based
Lets b:Friend pairs volunteers with socially isolated older neighbours to
provide companionship. The charity also hosts weekly social clubs, holding sessions
in cheerleading, poetry, dance and crafts.
Mike Niles,
Coordinator of Lets b:Friend, said: ‘We can’t wait for Hattie to come to town!
It’s going to be a day of music, activities and creativity which will start
hundreds of conversations in the centre of Doncaster. We find that many older
neighbours travel to town hoping to make connections but often leave having not
spoken to anyone. Being in the market is such a great opportunity to raise
awareness about b:Friend and bring people together for a cuppa and a chat.’
Matt Cranwell,
Managing Director at Stagecoach East Midlands, said: ‘After proving popular at
her launch in June, we’re delighted to be sending Hattie out on this tour to
bring more communities together.
It’s the
perfect opportunity for people to find out more about the charities we’re
teaming up with, and spend the day getting to know others in their community.
Do come along, and ‘get chatty with Hattie’!’
As part of her
tour, Hattie will also be visiting Sheffield and Barnsley alongside Age UK to promote social
inclusion, and provide a space for people to come together and enjoy the fun
activities on board the bus.
Sheffield
Cathedral, 25 September, 10.00am to 4.00pm
Barnsley Interchange, 26 September, 9.30am - 1.00pm
Find out more about Hattie