SOS Bus funding cut 'will put clubbers at risk'

The SOS Bus has been supporting clubbers in Norwich for 23 years

Cuts to a volunteer-led service which supports people on a night out will put public safety at risk, clubbers have said.

From next month, the NHS will withdraw its funding for the SOS Bus in Norwich to support a new service run by St John Ambulance (SJA) instead.

However, unlike the SOS Bus which covers every Friday and Saturday night, the new provision is only expected to cover 37 shifts per year.

Local NHS commissioners said they "sought to deliver a like-for-like quality service" after Voluntary Norfolk, which runs the SOS Bus, had asked for money to continue operating it.

The bus is staffed by volunteers and paid medics

Belinda Buxton, the SOS Bus development manager, said the team was looking for new funding streams to "fill the gap".

"There will be nights where people need help and we won't be there which is a bit worrying," she said.

"But I'm fairly optimistic that the fundraising that we're doing so far, the grants that we're applying for and the massive determination of the volunteers means we will get the money we need to at least run a reduced service."

Since 2001, the SOS Bus has provided a safe space for people on Prince of Wales Road following the deaths of two people in the River Wensum.

The charity said it helped almost 3,000 people last year, from handing out free bottles of water, to providing immediate first aid and mental health support.

The withdrawal of NHS funding means the SOS Bus will lose £80,000 a year, about two-thirds of its financial backing.

The charity said the bus could close down if new funding streams were not secured.

Belinda Buxton said the SOS Bus prevented 180 ambulance call-outs last year

Jo, who grew up in Norwich, said the SOS Bus was an "important part of the city".

"You can't be anything but positive for St John Ambulance," she said. “But my worry is that it’s not going to be here every night that it's needed."

Meanwhile, Lucy, a clubber in Norwich, said the SOS Bus was a "safety net".

"[If it closes] it would mean that we didn't have that safe space - someone to talk to if we needed help," she added.

"It would be a bit of a let down."

Jo's sister and father volunteers for the SOS Bus

Lucy said she was concerned women's safety could be compromised

A spokesperson from the NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board said: "SJA has a long history of supporting the NHS and currently run late-night ‘safe haven' schemes across the UK in partnership with local police and councils, delivering emergency medical care as well as welfare support.

"SJA will cover weekend nights on a schedule to ensure that the busiest weekends are covered.

"These include pay day weekends, bank holidays and dates such as New Year's Eve."

The new service, run by SJA, starts on 20 April.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "The service will be targeted at specific days where data indicate that there will be the greatest need.

"We are taking this approach with the NHS in order to ensure that the budget works best for everyone."