Eden Bus, operated by Manchester-based youth charity The Message Trust, assisted Operation ‘Super Vortex’ by providing a venue for officers to meet with the young people of Brinnington and explain to them what was happening as the police sweep took place. Young people were directed from the streets by police officers to the Eden Bus, situated in Brinnington Park.

Operation Super Vortex was designed to address the concerns and fears of local residents worried by anti-social behaviour – part of a police strategy to find long-term solutions to local worries. A total of 120 police officers were involved, resulting in several arrests and warrants executed,

Staff from the Eden Bus worked alongside members from St Luke’s Church and police officers organising a number of activities ranging from hi-tech gaming consoles to old-fashioned skipping games. Eden Bus is in Brinnington Park each Wednesday evening until 9pm for young people to meet up with their friends and meet new people.

This is just one way in which Eden Bus is working together with churches and statutory agencies to help to find solutions which help to build communities which have a ‘feel-safe’ factor.

Read a report of the initiative from local newspaper, Stockport Express here.