STUARTS Skip Hire of Swansea answered local man David Tiley’s DIY SOS-style call for an army of volunteers to convert a double decker bus into a haven for the homeless – with another bus soon hopefully on its way.
David, 40, of Gorseinon, has received help from the skip firm and other tradespeople including electricians, carpenters, cleaners and polishers, who all aim to ‘kit out’ the former London bus with a kitchen, a toilet and even compartments for dogs.
There will be room for 12-15 homeless people and the bus will be driven to the areas of greatest need in South Wales, including Carmarthen, Newport and Swansea.
He said: “We’ve had electricians, plumbers and computer companies get in touch.
Stuarts Skip Hire was up here with a skip in 30 minutes – we’ve got hundreds of volunteers willing to help.”
The conversion of the mobile homeless shelter is aimed at helping rough sleepers, who are even able to bring along their companion dogs.
Every little helps
David added: “Stuarts stepping in with a skip was extremely helpful for our project.
We had a load of waste we needed taking away beforehand to make room for the buses, which was done by Stuarts completely free of charge.”
Other Swansea firms were involved in the project too, including construction and tool hire company, Knight & Brenchley, which supplied a digger to also help with the waste removal.
“We have skip companies, a total hire company and a computer company offering to help. The Hero Handyman and Builders will do all the carpentry and MJ Electrics will do all the electrics,” David said.
David, who runs a Swansea-based entertainment agency, was inspired to get involved with the Helping Open People’s Eyes (HOPE) appeal after his Blackwood-based friend Ian Smith started the fundraising drive to buy and convert the double decker into a night shelter for the homeless.
Just under 3,000 people have shared the Facebook post so far and David said he had been overwhelmed by the scale of the support.
David added: “The bus is going to have a complete shower unit, kitchen, TV and everything you can possibility think of. It’s going to be amazing when it’s done; everyone will be so shocked.
“It will even have compartments for their dogs on the bus – the dogs deserve a home as well. We have had an excellent response so far.”
Waiting ages for a bus then two come at once
Hands-on David also has experience in building campers, so along with the right people, he had all the tools for a conversion in place. Unfortunately, however, when driving projects forward there is always a cost involved.
“HOPE raised £8,000 in six weeks and so we are now trying to raise another £4,500 to buy another bus,” he said.
There will be people on hand to support the homeless as soon as they get on board to point them in the right direction.
Swansea skip hire firm helps transform double decker to aid the homeless The buses will go on a rota and will head to the South Wales region and each bus will feed 12-15 people.
If you would like to help:
Sort code: 30-96-26
Account number: 45816060
Lloyd’s bank name of H.O.P.E.
PayPal, stagecoachred@aol.com
For more information, David Richard Tiley can be contact on: 01792 219022, or on mobile: 
07806783326