Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, today announced that it has donated an Enviro400 double deck bus that had previously been used as a test & development vehicle to the Change Please Foundation.
Change Please is an award-winning social enterprise tackling homelessness by training people to become baristas and supporting them with everything they need to turn their lives around – a living wage job, accommodation advice, therapy, bank account and onward employment opportunities.
In a ground-breaking initiative called Driving for Change, the Change Please Foundation takes repurposed double deckers to key London boroughs to provide lifesaving and essential services to the most vulnerable. These include access to general NHS and oral healthcare, a hairdresser, as well as financial inclusion, social support and much more. The buses can and have also been a way for guests to access the barista training programme.
Alexander Dennis has been able to donate a bus to the Foundation to allow it to continue its work. The Enviro400 double decker was built in 2014 as one of the prototypes of the model’s ‘MMC’ generation. For the past decade, it served as a test & development vehicle used by the manufacturer’s engineers for long-term testing and validation.
Before handing over the bus and in preparation for fitting out by Change Please, Alexander Dennis colleagues professionally removed the vehicle’s centre door which will no longer be needed.
“At Change Please, we are incredibly grateful for the generous donation from Alexander Dennis”
Ken Love, Managing Director Change Please UK & Ireland, said: “At Change Please, we are incredibly grateful for the generous donation from Alexander Dennis. Their support in providing a bus for our Driving for Change initiative is a game-changer in our mission to deliver vital services to those experiencing homelessness. This donation not only enables us to extend our reach but also ensures that we can continue offering essential support. Together, we are driving meaningful change and creating brighter futures for those who need it most.”
Alexander Dennis Head of Test & Development, Peter Richardson, said: “After more than ten years as a vital part of our development fleet, our prototype Enviro400 will have an even more important role in its second life. Driving for Change is a great initiative to alleviate homelessness in the capital and we’re incredibly honoured to be able to play our part by donating this additional double decker, allowing the Change Please Foundation to further expand its work.”
