Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel’s popular Chatty Bus initiative have teamed up with mental health charity Restore to provide extra support to tackle loneliness and isolation.
To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, Chatty Bus is returning on Wednesday 14th May, and volunteers will be on-board Oxford Bus Company’s 5A service to chat with passengers between Oxford, Cowley Centre and Littlemore.
And in a further boost, Chatty Bus passengers can also benefit from a £5 drinks voucher to use at Restore Garden Café if they engage in meaningful conversations on the bus.
Restore Garden Café is a vital part of Restore, one of the UK’s most well-established and highly regarded community rehabilitation services for people who struggle with mental health conditions.
Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel are delivering the Chatty Bus initiative as part of their Oxford Bus Cares initiative, following the success of previous campaigns after it first launched in 2019.
Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel’s Managing Director, said: “Restore won our 2021-2022 Brand the Bus competition and we’ve maintained our relationship with the charity since then. Developing the partnership further will help provide enhance the support we provide via Chatty Bus.
“The Chatty Bus experience creates the opportunity to connect, share stories, and build relationships within a supportive environment. By partnering with Restore, it means people can extend conversations and social interaction at the café, and if anyone needs extra support, we can help signpost them.
“Research has found buses form an important social function and by providing extra engagement, we hope to deliver more support and use Mental Health Awareness Week to help share the message that help is available.”
Chatty Bus volunteers will be on-board the 5A service from 9am to 3pm ready to share conversations, light games and information on local activities. When people board, a Chatty Bus Champion will be at the front of the bus.
Passengers will be welcome to pick up a badge saying they are happy to chat or enjoy their journey quietly. Chatty Bus volunteers will also help direct participants to the café.
The event is perfect for concessionary bus pass holders looking to socialise, anyone who is feeling lonely or isolated, and people of all ages who like to explore Oxford and chat to others.
In 2022, Go-Ahead Group, the parent company of Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel, signed the Government’s Employers Pledge, committing to help improve social connections and reduce loneliness levels.
Buses can provide a vital lifeline for many of those living in isolation, as a third of Britons admit that they deliberately catch the bus to have some human contact, research by ComRes on behalf of Greener Journeys found. While two-thirds of bus users say services create strong community ties, and eight out of 10 know someone who depends on the bus.
Restore, a specialist organisation in Oxfordshire, supports individuals through recovery groups, coaching and learning, empowering them to take control of their recovery, develop skills, and achieve their goals for more fulfilling lives. It also works to increase awareness and reduce stigma surrounding mental ill health within the community.
Libby Peppiatt, CEO of Restore, said: “Restore is delighted to work with the Oxford Bus Company’s activities during Mental Health Awareness Week.
“The efforts to raise awareness of mental health, and to champion the benefits of human connection on one’s well-being, very much align with Restore’s values.
“The Chatty Bus will turn an everyday space into an environment that encourages a more supportive and connected community. Restore’s Garden Cafe on Manzil Way is excited to welcome visitors from the buses for their free coffee and some good chat.”
