Community Bus Design Project
Blaenau Gwent's New Bus For Children, Young People And Families
Blaenau Gwent’s exciting new family community vehicle – a bus equipped to give an outreach and information service to children young people, parents and carers – was unveiled on Sunday 2 December 2007 by The Welsh Assembly Government’s Children’s Minister Jane Hutt AM.
A group of children and young people representing Blaenau Gwent’s Youth Forum and Young Carers worked with GD Graphics to develop a family of cartoon dragon characters based on the original dragon designed by GD Graphics for the logo of the Heart of the Valleys Integrated Children’s Centre.
The design the exterior of the bus was also developed through workshop sessions with the children and young people who decided where the individual characters should be placed. GD Graphics helped them by explaining the constraints, technical and budgetary limitations of the reproduction processes being employed by the Coach Building Company Leicester Carriage Builders. The graphics were reproduced using inkjet technology and each character was printed individually rather than the more modern approach to vehicle graphics employing shrink-wrap graphics for an all over design.
The young people visited Leicester Carriage Builders in Leicestershire and were given a tour of the factory, then helped the works’ team to transfer the first of their designs onto the outside of the bus.
The colourful bus will go on the road to local communities to provide them with a first class information service, play sessions, health advice and much more.
Councillor Gill Clark, Executive Member for Education, said:
“Our community bus is a fantastic new project that will bring services and advice to local communities across Blaenau Gwent.
“The bus is well equipped for learning, play and for health advice. The opportunities on board for children and their families range from ante-natal classes to accessing computers.
“This is a really worthwhile project that stems from the close partnership between the Council and the Blaenau Gwent Local Health Board.”
The community vehicle pictured left is an extension of Blaenau Gwent’s Children and Youth Information Service, offering information and online support on a wide range of topics to families, children and young people. This outreach service lets the Heart of the Valleys Integrated Children’s Centre in Blaina take its services to all areas of Blaenau Gwent.
Families with babies, toddlers and young children aged up to three will be able to obtain ante-natal advice, attend baby clubs and clinics and join in language and play sessions.
Opportunities for other young people will include open access play sessions, sport and leisure activities, drop-in facilities and health advice.