This is a little diary about what happens at the YesBus
If you've enjoyed a stay on the YesBus and would like to contribute a blog, film or photos please let us know. We LOVE hearing stories of people enjoying the bus.
PANDEMIC
2020
Well, did anyone see this coming? After a couple of events in early 2020 the COVID-19 lockdown naturally shut down normal operations at the bus. For a few weeks the SayYesMore team were based there, hosting hundreds of virtual events to keep the YesTribe busy and ensuring the bus was maintained and secure.
Even once the lockdown eased no visitors were allowed to the bus so eventually we made the hard decision to leave and find a new basecamp. The YesBus is heading away from Sussex in October 2020 to a new location. Watch this space!
WINTER ON THE YESBUS
2019-2020
It’s been wet, it’s been muddy, but that doesn’t stop the fun at The YesBus :)
WILDERNESS FIRST AID COURSES
DEC 2019 & JAN 2020
Our resident life saver - training with Steve is so much fun! He is super experienced and delivers the most informative, relative and entertaining first aid courses - we all left with life-saving knowledge in our minds and big grins on our faces!
ECO THERAPY WEEKEND
13TH - 14TH APRIL
This was a gorgeously tranquil weekend filled with plenty of laughter, amazingly warming food and a reconnection to nature. Jim and Jenna ran this beautiful weekend of Eco and Nature Therapy workshops, encouraging us to pause, be mindful and reach out to the nature surrounding us in order to take care of our mental and physical wellbeing.
None of the people attending had tried this before and we would definitely all do it again. It was so rewarding to put time aside to just be, and that was fine. There were sit spots, silent walks, activities to unleash our inner primates and creativity, plus plenty of time to spend enjoying the beauty around us and to notice the little things.
We cooked together on the fire and most people took a bivvy bag to sleep under the kaleidoscopic stars, only to awake nice and early to frosty snowflakes covering every inch.
We should all carve out more time away from technology to appreciate all that we have.
PLASTIC POLLUTION SOLUTIONS
18-19 MARCH 2019
As part of Brinsbury College’s Respect the Environment week we were asked to host over 100 students across eight workshops, highlighting problems, causes, solutions and projects to encourage understanding and action around plastic pollution and consumption.
WILD CAMPING WORKSHOP
16-17 MARCH 2019
FILMMAKING WORKSHOP
16 MARCH 2019
TRIBE DAYS
2-3 MARCH 2019
We set-up the YesBus to offer an affordable escape to the countryside for as many people as possible so this year we’ve decided to take a little risk, which we hope will pay off!
This was the first weekend where access to the YesBus was free. People come to Tribe Days for their own reasons; to work, chat, play, recharge or read, and all we asked was that if they felt the space was worth it that they make a small donation towards the upkeep of the bus.
There are a bunch of running costs from land rental to gas, internet, water, firewood and of course, tea and COFFEE, and of course expenses for the staff who come in to look after the bus for each event. Fingers crossed the donations policy keeps us ticking over, this first weekend seemed to be a success despite plenty of wind and rain!
AMBASSADOR MEET-UP #1
23-24 FEBRUARY 2019
Our first team of Ambassadors met up at the bus for a weekend of training, idea-bashing and storytelling.
Our ambassadors are weekend warriors, artists, Paralympians, adventurous parents, eco activists, youth heroes, Invictus Games medalists and adventurers. Some live with chronic illness, others have faced other challenges, but all have decided to live and work with purpose, inspiring others to get together, get outside and make the most of their time.
TEAM SUMMIT
2-3 FEB 2019
Throughout the weekend over 30 regional tribe leaders, campout chiefs and other members of the SayYesMore family gathered at the bus for a spot of team building, training and campfire time.
Our volunteers make the YesTribe tick around the UK and further afield, and it’s so nice to get together with people who believe in the mission and are willing to give some of their time to do some good. Magic.
YESTIVAL
19-20 OCTOBER 2018
SayYesMore’s 4th annual microfestival for positive change was bathed in sunlight from beginning to end. As usual our neighbouring field became home to the majority of the festival but this year the YesBus came into its own as a venue.
It’s hard to believe that last year we didn’t have power or running water but now, the solar panels basking, the coffee pot bubbling and speakers choosing to use either the upper deck or the firepit out the front as their stage, no doubt some new adventure seeds were sewn from our permanent home. Magical.
FILMING
WORKSHOP
4-5 AUGUST 2018
This weekend people descended on BusLand to learn how to use their phones to create professional films.
The weather was gorgeous, we created a little community, eating, learning and sharing stories together, and everyone left ready to save the internet from more bad movies.
ADVENTURE PLANNING WORKSHOP
14-15 July 2018
A quiet little weekend, peppered with adventure planning workshops, campfires and chasing sheep away from our precious grass!
FILM TIME!
3 July 2018
Filmmaking Nat Baker visited the bus to interview Dave, and find out how the kindness of strangers on his adventures influenced the concept of the YesBus.
TRIBE DAYS
30 JUNE - 2 JULY 2018
A long, hot summer has taken away some of our greenery, but we've added to the site with a second venue, a gorgeous Lotus Belle Tent, and in between watching the World Cup from the comfort of a hammock a song was written about the YesBus, and our new VR programme was given a test run. What a lovely weekend!
PODCAST TIME
16 JUNE 2018
We encourage any creatives to use the bus as a venue for their art. Nick and Amy from up and coming travel podcast What The Pho decided to head on down to interview our Dave on the top deck. Meanwhile, video blogger Charlie Keep, aka Pocket Trailblazer, captured these lovely pics. Check out her YouTube channel!
BRINSBURY OPEN DAY
15 -16 JUNE 2018
Hundreds of people descended on BusLand as part of Brinsbury Campus' annual open day. Kids by the dozen running around, adults slumping onto the fireside seating. And then, when the madness left the building, the smoke continued to rise, the library was well used, and our new juggling clubs got a workout!
TRIBE DAYS
1-3 JUNE 2018:
From the off the bus was supposed to be at the heart of a space where people could escape to the countryside and just....be.
Our first Tribe Days were true to that message. We opened our doors and all kinds of folks came. Hammocky book reading, impromptu acro-yoga, BBQs and adventure planning made this a weekend to remember.
OUR FIRST SCHOOL VISIT
21 May 2018
15 pupils and teachers celebrated finishing exams by litterpicking on a nearby beach and a talk by Plastic Tide founder Pete Kohler.
Then, relax. Table tennis and football, BBQ, campfire and a showing of Life Is Beautiful on our upstairs cinema. You'd think all of this would have led to a good night's sleep, but the chattering from the tents at 3am suggested otherwise!
AND WE HAVE WATER!
4/5 February 2018
Another couple of key jobs complete. Our kitchen is now fully working with fridge, water and gas installed. And outside we've created a shed for our recycling system and log store. Of course, some fun is important so we got the table tennis table out for an evening session, too! Looking forward to some summer tournaments for the tribe!
ADVENTURE BOOK CLUB
26/27 January 2018
The Adventure Book Club grew out of the YesTribe in 2017 and they enjoyed an overnight annual party on the YesBus at the end of January, including dinner, campfire and an adventurous film upstairs.
LET THERE BE SUN!
24-26 January 2018
We've got one eye on starting a full programme on the bus in early Spring. Plenty to do before then, including installing the solar panels and making Bussy fully sun-powered, fitting the pipes so we've got running water in the kitchen, building up our wood supplies for the fire, enjoying some crisp winter sunsets and testing out the bus with small events, podcast recordings and campouts.
The Conversion
After buying our bus in mid May a willing team of volunteers led by Chris Barnes has been undertaking the first stage of renovation. The bus has been stripped of all fittings, seats and innards that won't be needed in its new life.
The walls have been insulated while air vents, wood-burning stove and roof hatch have been installed, and power and water systems are being lined up for early 2017.
The bus is on a hard standing in a boat yard near the Thames in West London, and we're working on an agreement with a landowner for the bus' brand new home out in the countryside.
She (or he?) used to be in service in London, and was then living in the Isle of Wight for three years - the downstairs was converted into a bike storage space and the outside of the bus was wrapped in a very cool dinosaur design.
We started by looking for a countryside location accessible to London with a very real sensation of nature. A place where members of the YesTribe can visit and camp nearby. Woodland or a patch of grass on a farm where the landowners appreciate what we're trying to do and could use a spot of income or even better, some willing, working hands to help manage the area.
And then Brinsbury put their hand up. After a really successful Yestival at Brinsbury campus in Chichester we've agreed that the YesBus will move to Brinsbury in the Summer of 2017. It's a gorgeous natural setting and we couldn't be more excited.
We do have plenty to do to prepare the YesBus plot and as always we're reaching out to you to lend a hand. Get in touch if you'd like to help.