Our History
SOLVING ONE OF SOCIETY’S PROBLEMS - THE BIG YELLOW BUS
The Big Yellow Bus Project opened its doors on Christmas Eve 2018 to support rough sleepers in Cirencester by providing shelter for the homeless in its distinctive yellow double decker bus.
The charity aimed to support the wellbeing of adults in the community by helping to bridge the gap to avoid homelessness and also offering interventions to help those in need get their lives back on track.
The bus shut down when lockdown began in March 2020 due to COVID restrictions and so we desperately tried to come up with a plan of action to be able to support the homeless alongside the council. With a flood of support from our community we were able to provide an emergency night shelter in a more suitable unit throughout the pandemic.
THE BIG YELLOW BUS PROJECT CHARITY SHOP
On the 19th October 2019, The Big Yellow Bus Project Charity Shop was officially opened by Lady Bathurst in The Woolmarket, Cirencester.
The shop stocks affordable clothing, toys, games, books, DVDs and bric-a-brack, with all proceeds going to fund the charitable work of the project.
Whilst the charity no longer provides emergency shelter to the homeless, the shop still stocks sleeping bags and warm clothing and has recently partnered with the Cirencester Foodbank to provide emergency food parcels for those in need.
The shop is open 10am - 4pm every day except Sundays
We are always looking for new volunteers to join our team. If you are interested please get in touch. We would love to hear from you.
SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY - THE DROP IN SUPPORT CENTRE
The Big Yellow Bus Project opened its community drop in support centre in December 2022, which was located in the Market Square, Cirencester.
The centre offered 1-2-1 counselling with licenced councillors, as well as group support sessions. These included art sessions, anxiety support groups, tea and company gatherings and wellbeing workshops. Drop-in sessions were available to assist those experiencing homelessness and needing guidance with the council housing process or additional signposting.
Over 245 hours of support was provided to the local community by the centre.
Unfortunately due to the rising costs of running the centre and the reduced availability of grants and funding support for charities, the centre closed in September 2025.
THE COTSWOLD COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUNDING SERVICES
On Christmas Eve 2025, on the charity's 6 Year Anniversary, The Big Yellow Bus Project entered its new era through the launch of the Cotswold Community Support Funding Services.
The aims of the charity remain the same however, having experienced first hand the difficulties and cost of providing community support services ourselves, the charity has evolved to partnering with and providing much needed funding to other community and support groups in and around the Cotswolds.
Our first partnership is with Cirencester Foodbank which aims to provide food parcels to anyone who cannot afford food and lives in the south of the Cotswolds district. Our charity shop in Cirencester stocks emergency 24-hour food parcels as well as sleeping bags and warm clothing which is freely available for those in need.