2012-09-17 — /travelprnews.com/ — A late-night support service for vulnerable people has received significant funding towards its operations from George Best Belfast City Airport.
SOS Bus NI, which operates from Shaftesbury Square and the Odyssey Arena in Belfast every weekend, was awarded the financial support from the airport’s Community Fund.Brian Ambrose, Chief Executive of Belfast City Airport said:
“The support provided by the SOS Bus plays an invaluable role in relieving pressure on the Ambulance Service and Hospital Emergency Departments at peak times.
“I recently had the opportunity to visit the SOS Bus to meet the volunteers and it is a pleasure to support an organisation providing an important service to busy areas of Belfast every weekend.”
To date, SOS bus has interacted with over 157,000 people on the streets of Belfast and provided caring/medical support to more than 3,500 individuals.
Sarah McCandless, a team leader with SOS Bus said:
“We are delighted to have this funding awarded by Belfast City Airport’s Community Fund as we are continually under pressure to raise funds through donations and the fundraising activities of the SOS volunteer team.
“We have been providing a safe haven for vulnerable people for almost 5 years and have saved many lives.
“This money makes a real difference in supporting our work at the Odyssey Arena. The impending busy period over the universities’ ‘Fresher’s Week’ is a great example of how working together brings support to the emergency services, and ultimately to all those who need our combined help.”
The Airport’s Community Fund, which benefits from the airport fining airlines for operating late flights, has supported almost 50 local projects in the neighbouring area.
If you would like to donate to SOS Bus NI or to become a volunteer, please contact communityfundraisingteam@sosbusni.com or call 028 9066 4505.
For more information on how your group can apply to the Belfast City Airport Community Fund, contact communityfund@belfastcityairport.com
SOS Bus team leader, Sarah McCandless, talks Chief Executive of Belfast City Airport, Brian Ambrose, through the vital work of the service and its volunteers ahead of the universities’ ‘Freshers’ Week’