An old school bus is due to be transformed into a space for the elderly and children to spend time with dogs.
Irlam-based Dogs4Rescue won the yellow bus after submitting its proposal to Transport for Greater Manchester.
It was one of several being decommissioned and up for grabs by local charities and organisations.
The winning entries had to meet specific criteria including originality, creativity and for their idea to be a benefit to the community.
The competition followed the success of a similar scheme back in 2019 that saw six buses being donated to various bidders, including Red Lane Primary School in Bolton.
They turned their donated vehicle into a wellbeing bus and currently use it as a dedicated space to provide social and emotional intervention for their pupils.
After its successful bid, the kennel-free animal sanctuary in Salford is now the proud owner of one of the buses and has big plans for its transformation.
It will become a rehab centre on wheels and a space for people to spend time with the dogs.
Founder Emma Billington told TeamDogs: “Space is premium here so we have different areas with different things but what we do do is rehab with children.
“So we’ve got a psychologist who comes here.
"(We help) children with real difficulties and we use the dogs to help the kids so it’s like rescue dogs rescuing people which is a lot about what we’re about.”
As well as being kitted out as a space for children, it is also hoped that the bus will enable the wider community to spend time with the dogs, such as the elderly.
Emma added: “We also have old people who want to come and spend time with the dogs but can’t necessarily deal with the strong dogs or a pack of dogs, or they’re not very mobile.
“So we thought we’d make a little brew area and we’ll kit it out so it’s all lovely and comfortable for them.
“And then they can spend some quality time with some of the dogs that are a bit quieter so again the dogs get something out of it and the people get something out of it.”
Although Dogs4Rescue works hard to rehome the dogs in its care, there are some whose past and care needs make them unsuitable for rehoming, so instead they become sanctuary dogs.
The centre recently told of its plans to recruit a volunteer doggy cuddler to spend time with these dogs, something else the bus may be used for.
Emma said: “That’s what we’re all about, trying to make every dog’s life here the best it can possibly be.”
Speaking of the role, she added: “So it’d be in a separate area to give them the time away from the pack. A bit of TLC in a dedicated area so obviously the bus is going to be one of the things that we’re using that for.”
