A groundbreaking "super bus" with a mobile supermarket, meeting space cafe and rooms for confidential chats is being prepared to help people struggling financially on Sheppey. But organisers need another £10,000 to make it happen.

A former red London double-decker bus has been donated to the Sheppey Community Development Forum by Tim Lambkin of Sheerness coach firm Travelmasters.

Hear Lynne Clifton talk about the Sheppey community bus

The downstairs is to be converted into a travelling community supermarket to deliver groceries across the Island to people struggling to make ends meet.

But it is needed to be on the road by September in time to help Islanders who may end up with money problems after the Government's coronavirus furlough payments end. As conversion work will take six weeks, the forum is now racing against the clock.

Major Lynne Clifton from the Sheerness branch of the Salvation Army is on the steering group. She said: "It is wonderful the forum is now the proud owner of its own bus thanks to the incredible generosity of Travelmasters. But we need money to get it on the road in time for September."

The forum believes the service will pay for itself because families will be charged a £28 a month membership fee (£14 for individuals) to contribute to grocery bills. But it needs £10,000 in advance to pay for the conversion which will be carried out by South East Coachworks of Faversham - the same people who prepared the Union Flag bus for the Spice Girls in their 1997 movie Spice World.

Major Clifton said: "Our service will compliment the existing food banks. The mobile supermarket is the next stage to help people move forward. It will give people dignity and empower them."

Members choose what food they would like from what is available. Their membership fee gives them a "sense of ownership".

The community supermarket will be downstairs. Upstairs will become a social centre where organisations like Citizens Advice, debt advice and KCC community wardens may be available to talk to residents in confidence.

Major Clifton said: "The bus will give us the opportunity to get out to see people who might find it difficult to visit offices in Sheerness. The geography of Sheppey can be challenging, especially if you don't have your own transport. I am really excited about this project."

The forum has been working closely with the Seashells Community Food Pantry based in Rose Street, Sheerness. "The two projects will sit well together so we can serve the Island as best we can," she said.

The forum has identified 15 stopping places for the bus which has been painted white so sponsors' messages and adverts can be clearly shown. Mechanics at Travelmasters have secured all its side panels and are to MOT it this week.

Tim Lambkin on getting the Sheppey community bus ready

The forum has already raised £7,000 but needs to find a further £10,000 to get the bus on the road, either through gifts, loans or grants. It is also considering other fundraising activities.

Forum chairman the Rev Steve Chalke, who founded the Oasis Isle of Sheppey Academy, said: "It is most exciting the way this project has been gripped by the community. It could really put Sheppey on the map. But with the government's furlough schemes to end in September it is vitally important to launch it now."

Paul Aspin who chairs the Oasis Academy's charitable trust added: "We know of another scheme like this in Wandsworth but we seem to be leading the way. This is groundbreaking. It is exciting but scary at the same time. It is a fantastic project for the Island but we are on the horns of a dilemma. We know from our business plan we can run this but to get the show on the road we need more money. We are still short of our target."

For more information, email Paul Murray, the academy's community leader, at paul.murray@oasisisleofsheppey.org or call 07970 753404.

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