Christmas bus hitting the streets on a 1,000 hampers mission
By Jill Dando News
A special bus is taking to the streets of the West of England from this week on an ambitious mission to bring festive cheer to hundreds of struggling families.
First West of England is joining forces with Westcountry charity Operation Community Hamper (OCH) on an eight-day tour of the region aboard a special open top Christmas carol bus to create 1,000 hampers for vulnerable families struggling in the cost-of-living crisis.
The bus, kitted out with lights, music and Christmas characters, will begin its two-hour journey in Weston-super-Mare this Thursday (5th) at 6pm. It will then tour other places every night, at the same time, until Thursday 12thDecember, including Bristol, Bath and North Somerset .
As well as spreading some festive cheer across the region, the main aim of the ‘carol bus’ is to collect luxury Christmas items donated by the public for the OCH appeal.
The appeal was launched during the pandemic in 2020 by Bristol resident and child protection manager Charlotte Churchill who noticed an increasing number of families accessing food banks.
In her first year, she created 19 hampers in her living room, and last year that number had reached 656 with thanks to help from local volunteers and businesses and the use of a larger storage area at Bristol Rovers’ football ground.
This year the team aims to create 1,000 hampers for families in need.
Charlotte said: “It started off in my front room with 19 hampers, and by 2022 the wider community got involved, and that’s where it really grew. We created 340 hampers that year, and last year – alongside the usual hampers – we also created bags of Christmas gifts for most of the families.
“The support from local and national businesses, such as First West of England, has been amazing. The joy and wellbeing that Operation Community Hamper provides to families is incredible. This project is about enriching their lives, adding to their emotional well-being and bringing some hope to them. I’m really passionate about OCH because everything we do really does have a huge impact on local families that are struggling, and the fact so many other people and businesses are becoming just as passionate is just amazing.”
The families that receive hampers are referred to the charity by professionals, with many of them in full time employment but still struggling to pay the basic cost of living such as food and utility bills.
They are described by the charity as JAMs (Just About Managing).
Sarah Wallbridge, Senior Marketing Manager for First West of England, which is not only providing the carol bus tour but is also providing gifts and bus travel tickets in each hamper, said:
“We’re proud to be involved with lots of great community events and activities across our region, and Operational Community Hamper is one of those that always gives me that ‘wow’ factor. The energy and passion the team has is amazing, and there’s a real sense of community with everyone super committed to make a real difference.
“I’m so delighted we are helping the charity again this year with an even more ambitious plan to create 1,000 hampers, and I hope our carol bus tour will not only spread lots of festive cheer but also help us collect hundreds of items to make this year’s appeal even more of a success.”
Members of the public who want to donate luxury Christmas items, including food and drink, can hand them over to volunteers on the carol bus as it tours the region.
Route maps for each bus, as well as a list of suggested items to donate, can be found on the First West of England website. Anyone wanting to donate is asked to wait at their nearest bus stop on a carol bus route and wave the bus down.
If you are unable to visit the carol bus or offer items, OCH is also accepting financial donations on its website.
The special Christmas bus will tour the following locations between 6pm and 8pm:
Thursday 5th Dec
Weston-super-Mare
Friday 6th Dec
Bath (Fox Hill / Odd Down / Southdown/ Twerton
Saturday 7th Dec
Bristol (Horfield/Henleaze/Westbury on Trym/Southmead/Lockleaze)
Sunday 8th Dec
Bristol (Combe Dingle/Kingsweston /Shirehampton/Avonmouth/Lawrence Weston/Henbury
Monday 9th Dec
Bristol (Stoke Gifford/Little Stoke/Bradley Stoke)
Tues 10th Dec
Bristol (Whitehall/Speedwell/Hillfields/Staple Hill/Fishponds)
Wed 11th Dec
North Somerset (Nailsea/Clevedon/Portishead)
Thursday 12th Dec
Bristol (Kingswood/Hanham/Longwell Green/cadbury Heath/Willsbridge)
