Bauer Media Outdoor is helping visually impaired children and adults, as well as people living with dementia, benefit from donated bus infrastructure through a community project involving public and private partners across the Liverpool City Region.
As part of its social value commitment through its partnership with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Bauer Media Outdoor has donated a familiar yellow bus stop post and a bus shelter to two local organisations: Brushwood Nursing home in Speke, and the Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool.
At Brushwood Nursing home, the bus stop post has been installed to support residents living with dementia. Familiar, everyday settings such as bus stops can provide reassurance, create opportunities for conversation and offer residents a comforting place to pause.
HA Civils also supported the project by donating time and materials to prepare the sites, including relaying groundwork, tarmacking and marking out the area to resemble a real bus stop. The company also provided and installed Kassel kerbs to create a more realistic look and feel.
Councillor Steve Foulkes Chair of the Liverpool City Region Transport Committee and Deputy Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "These bus stops will make a real difference for young people at the Royal School for the Blind by helping them build the confidence and independence needed toaccess opportunities across the City Region. They will also provide a familia rand comforting space for care home residents living with dementia. It is a great example of how public procurement can deliver meaningful social value across the City Region."
Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor William Shortall, said: "These bus stops are an excellent example of how partners across the Liverpool City Region are working together to improve accessibility and independence. By helping pupils build confidence in using public transport and creating a familiar environment for care home residents, this project will make a real difference to people's everyday lives."
Brushwood Nursing home manager Michelle Broley came up with the idea for the bus stop after finding that many residents living with dementia frequently expressed a desire to "go home." The idea was then developed with support from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Bauer Media Outdoor, and HA Civils.
The bus stop was installed at Brushwood Care Home on 8 July, with Bauer Media Outdoor providing the bus stop flag and timetable. Brushwood Nursing home completed the space with yellow bench seating, supported by a donation from the family of a former resident, to create a comfortable and familiar outdoor area for residents.
At the Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool, the donated bus shelter provides a safe and supportive setting for pupils to be able to practise locating a stop, understanding travel information and waiting safely. It’s part of the school’s wider mission to not just support pupils’ academic education, but their wider development and independence.
The bus stop was installed on 30 July by Bauer Media Outdoor.
Vicki Dwyer, Headteacher of Royal School for the Blind, said: "This bus stop will give our pupils a safe and familiar place to practise the skills they need to travel by bus. It will help them build confidence and develop greater independence."
The donations are part of the social value delivered through the Combined Authority’s procurement policies and its partnership with Bauer Media Outdoor, supporting projects that respond directly to the needs of local communities.
Emma Lloyd, Portfolio Partnership Manager at Bauer Media Outdoor UK, said: "Outdoor infrastructure is part of everyday life, but in the right setting it can do much more than support a journey, it can help build confidence, independence, familiarity and connection. This project is a great example of social value in action, and of how collaboration between public and private partners can make a meaningful difference in local communities."
Tony Carney, Managing Director of HA Civils, said: "We were delighted to be a part of this initiative and the Combined Authority's active travel mission. Our core value, 'HA Means More,' reflects our commitment to enhancing the local community through collaborative projects like these. By providing our services at no cost, we aim to not only support vital initiatives like those at the Royal School for the Blind to foster an environment where everyone can thrive. We believe that by working together, we can make a meaningful impact and help create spaces that promote independence and comfort for those in need."
