SOS Bus
Providing care to night owls of Belfast
At the weekends, over 20,000 revellers are estimated to be on the streets of Belfast. Every Friday and Saturday, from 9PM through to 3 in the morning, the SOS Bus is in the city centre supporting people as they come out of the pubs and clubs of Belfast. The bus is there for those who need help, are in emotional distress, are under the influence of drugs or drink, or are feeling vulnerable because of aggressive behaviour.
The SOS Bus is a multi-agency initiative supported by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the Northern Ireland Office, The NI Ambulance Service and the Fire Service, alongside commercial and private sector interests. The project was developed after founder Joe Hyland observed Belfast residents not getting the help they needed on weekend nights.
The SOS Bus was launched in November, providing a “first stop shop” of assistance to those in need on the streets of Belfast. Already, it has greatly reduced the call for minor injuries in emergency departments, freeing them up to deal with higher category calls. Already, the police service have noticed a reduction in violent crimes in the city, and the SOS Bus support for the “Get Home Safe” operation is providing further public reassurance.
The Board of directors for SOS Bus North Ireland holds the Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI. He has also attended the FBI Academy and the Strategic Command Course. Working with the Community Safety Partnership, the availability and visibility of the SOS Bus is helping to reduce crime, tackle anti-social behaviour, and reduce the fear of crime. It has been so successful that other cities in the province are keen to get on board.
The SOS Bus has expanded beyond just working nights: “SOS BUS has been working down at the Waterfront Hall with the young people who congregate there on Saturday afternoons…the kids at the Waterfront need our support—they're worth it.” The SOS Bus also holds regular training sessions for its volunteers.
Quotes
“We can, all of us, only make things better for our families if we first make it better for each other.” — Joe Hyland, CEO SOS Bus
Contact details
alcgib@hotmail.co.uk
028 90 664505
SOSbusNI.com