Us In A Bus is a registered charity working with people who are often isolated and can find communicating with the world (and the people in it) a challenge.
Our clients are people with profound learning disabilities and/or complex needs. They may find the everyday things that we take for granted – talking to friends, sharing a joke, choosing what to eat – a huge challenge. This often also have sensory and physical disabilities that make life difficult.
What we aim to do is to cut through some of these complexities and concentrate on what makes us all the same: the need to connect and communicate with each other in a way that means something to us and that contributes positively to our emotional well-being.
In practice this means getting to know our clients, normally on a one to one basis in their homes, and then developing ideas and actions that may lead to a connection being made. This might, for example, mean playing a simple game; creating a sound or a song; testing and exploring different textures or simply initiating a touch of the hand. When we meet someone we don’t knowwhat it might be that creates a connection, but what we do know is that it will be different for everyone.
We also help those caring for or supporting people with profound learning disabilities and/or complex needs explore how to use Intensive Interaction 24/7. We believe that considering the communication and emotional well-being needs of those we care for or support should be integral to their lives, not an afterthought or an add-on. To find out more about the training we deliver and to download a Booking Form click here

WORKING WITH OUR CLIENTS

Interactive Sessions

We visit our clients in their homes, once a week, over a period of time that may be just a few months or in some cases five years or more. This commitment gives us all a chance to build relationships as we find out about each other.
Most weekly sessions are shared between a few people who live together. We aim to find out how people express themselves and then work alongside each person to help them develop that self-expression in order to have a greater influence on their own lives and the people around them. This can be a long and subtle process and we aim to make it an enjoyable as well as an empowering one.
So, what actually happens during an Us in a Bus session? There is no typical session – what happens depends entirely on who the person is and what they feel like that day. What we do know is that there will be two Us in a Bus facilitators there (for an hour) and they will introduce themselves in ways that are familiar and reassuring to each person.
For two examples of our work with clients please click here.
They will make sure that the activities that are introduced and any interactions that ensue are led by the people there. We use a huge range of activities and equipment to explore possibilities with people, encouraging each other’s imagination and sometimes stretching comfort zones along the way.
“I have accessed Us in a Bus services for our people for over 12 years, I have seen Service Users’ confidence and communication skills improve dramatically. This has enabled individuals with no verbal form of communication and those that are tactile defensive to practice communication that others can understand and to have their wishes/preferences heard, sometimes for the first time in their lives.

To me, the service the Us in a Bus Team provide is invaluable in respect of the work they do,their reports and their presentations during reviews with MDT’s. Finally I would like to thank the Team for their dedication and input on behalf of the people’s lives they have helped to change.” Michaela Widley, Seeability

The Bus Stop

the bus stopSocial networking is something that most young people take for granted, but for young people with profound learning disabilities and/or complex needs it is really difficult to access.
In response to this need, Us in a Bus has created ‘The Bus Stop’. This is a weekly opportunity for young people to meet in the community to explore communication and sociability in a relaxed and supportive environment.
We use Intensive Interaction to facilitate The Bus Stop in a way that is fun, easy to access and gives, young, transition-aged people, the chance to meet with others.
We are currently running a programme for 5 young people in Redhill, but we are researching the potential of replicating The Bus Stop in other areas. If you are interested in discussing this please contact Steve Parker on 01737 764774.

 

Fundraising

Us in a Bus is a Registered Charity (number 1088570). We depend entirely upon income generated from providing sessions with clients, training and consultancy fees and the generosity of individuals and grant giving organisations to continue to deliver our work. Recent fundraising activity and donations include donations in lieu of flowers at a funeral, sponsored activites such as running the marathon, a legacy and donations from various Charitable Trusts and local Groups to support our running costs and projects like The Bus Stop.
If you have ideas for fundraising activities please contact Renee or email her at renee.canter@usinabus.org.uk

Contact us

Us In A Bus
Queens House
Philanthropic Road
Redhill
Surrey
RH1 4DZ
Tel: 01737 764774
Email: info@usinabus.org.uk