The Forest Bus Childrens Charity aims to help improve communities in the New Forest and areas in Hampshire - we aim to give Children and young people a chance to realise their dreams and ambitions.

The Forest Bus provides a variety of opportunities to young people, children and their families living in the New Forest and rurally isolated areas in Hampshire.

We use specially converted vehicles to deliver mobile youth work, after school sessions, family groups, and special multi cultural events. The team of staff and volunteers provide a variety of skills and bring a diverse range of opportunities to people who live in areas which are disadvantaged by rural and urban deprivation.
As well as providing our day to day sessions, we also offer lots of creative and educational activities at our workshops, such as arts & crafts, bush crafts, in-direct learning, play therapy and 1 to 1 development work with children and adults. We operate music technology workshops where young people can get the chance to learn a musical instrument and even music studio recording skills.Forest Bus also operates music technology workshops where young people can get the chance to learn a musical instrument and even music studio recording skills.
Funding received in the last year has enabled a comprehensive range of training for staff and volunteers to access – this includes solution based brief therapy, play therapy, specialised parenting training and a new type of circle time intervention called SAPS. The team are now even more skilled to deal with a range of work with people of all ages. In addition the organisation offers placements to social work students form local universities and will this year be developing a learning group for students which is a new initiative in the training of social workers in Hampshire.

We have just organised the first New Forest Mela which saw over 3,300 people attend this amazing event. The day saw a host of different activities from Bollywood dancing, Capoera to circus skills and Bangra fusion dj workshops. The event also provided a unique opportunity for the Forest Bus to work in partnership with other local agencies. A number of stalls were organised by members of the Gypsy community, the main ethnic minority group in Hampshire.
In recent years we have undertaken three pieces of in depth research into the health and social needs eg Gypsies and Travellers which has resulted in us gaining funding from the Dept of Health for a major health project in response to the needs we identified.

Our every day work sees us working in local areas, both on our vehicles as well as in community centres and schools. The aim is work alongside groups of people so that they are empowered and supported to set up their own activities –such as after school groups, youth sessions etc. In addition we support local schools by delivering specialised group work to children and young people who face difficulty. Play therapy is also delivered on a one to one basis for those who need more in depth work.

We currently use three vehicles for our work – a DAF lorry - which has an electric pod to create extra space – a new play van with an extending stage and an ancient but loyal Ford Luton Transit which we use to transport equipment from A – B.
For any further details about the Forest Bus please call 02380 663866