Manchester charity using BUS to improve lives

A Manchester charity is using a bus to improve lives in some of the country's toughest areas

Eden's double decker is decked out with everything from a nail bar and TVs to play FIFA on to a rock climbing wall and a slide.

It's currently spending Friday nights in the Ordsall area of Salford to help police officers tackle anti-social behaviour.

John Li, who works for Eden which is part of the Message Trust, manages the double decker:

"We aim to be like a mobile youth centre so we've got all sorts of high-tech stuff on the bus and even though it's a great attraction for them we don't want it to be the be-all and end-all.

"What we really like to see is young people getting involved with the local church and becoming great examples to their friends and peers - shining examples of what teens should be and not what society labels them.

"They're loving the stuff that's on there - it's been really well recieved, they're being respectful and that's helping us to build friendships between them and local youth workers.

Talking about the bus' success in other areas, John said:

"Police would normally get between 25 and 30 call outs each night and one evening that number dropped down to none.

"It turns out the main suspects were on our bus, enjoying themselves, listening to our little talks and generally being alright".

Click here to find out more about the Eden bus and how to get it to your area.