Established 2005 Registered Charity No. 1110656

Scottish Charity Register No. SC043760

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Back in the driving seat

February 03 2010
Salt and Light‘s bus back in service after vandalism

Salt and Light Christian Outreach program in Glasgow has pulled through after a testing start to 2010. For Anne Wallace and her hard-working team of volunteers, the year started with their outreach bus being targeted in a series of thoughtless attacks.

The double-decker has been integral to the charity’s work since 2001. With it they aim to bring “prayer, food and support to the women working as prostitutes” as well as to many homeless people and those with drug and alcohol addictions in Glasgow.

The bus was attacked twice by vandals, while parked outside the mission’s church in Govanhill. They caused significant damage to the contents of the bus and then returned almost a week later to smash the windows.

The attack temporarily halted the service. Anne Wallace says: “These attacks have left me feeling very angry but I feel it is a righteous anger. Those responsible are so stupid, because they don’t realise they’re putting vulnerable people’s lives at risk.”

Ms Wallace, who won the Daily Record’s Volunteering Hero Award last May, confirms that the story, which made national news, has strengthened the charity. Less than a week after the attack, the bus was back on the road.

This was partly due to the response of the Stagecoach travel company, who originally donated the bus in 2003. Thanks to them, the bus was repaired fully after its attack, and preventative security measures installed.

Although the attack threatened to destroy the charity’s good work, the ensuing media coverage will undoubtedly help them to recover stronger than ever. Strathclyde Police has since arrested a suspect.

The bus operates a drop-in centre on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between 11am and 2pm in the car park of Glasgow Elim Church on Inglefield Street, and on Friday between 10am and 1pm in the Gorbals area. On Thursday evenings, the bus travels the streets and volunteers hand out food, clothing, quilts, sleeping bags, and offer support and prayer to the disadvantaged on Glasgow’s streets.

• Drop-in centre: 07980 124 163

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