HOMELESS people's charity The Bus Shelter may be moving into permanent accommodation at the former Ryde Youth Centre.

The Bus Shelter has been unable to open its converted bus so far this winter because the Isle of Wight Council has not allocated a place for the bus to park, so the charity is making plans for a fixed address.

The charity has also been given a £5,000 grant by the Island Roads Foundation for a pilot project with the Isle of Wight College to provide courses to Bus Shelter users to help them get back into work and secure accommodation.

If the Bus Shelter moves into the former Ryde Youth Centre, the charity plans to use the ground floor to house the current work of the shelter.

Bus Shelter trustees said in a statement: "We hope to develop accommodation upstairs where people, ready to move on with their lives, could acquire the skills they need to live in their own accommodation again.

"There would be space for counselling, training and befriending as well as laundry facilities, showers, hot meals and warm beds.

"The bus itself would still be needed as a first point of need and there is a space behind Ryde Youth Centre where it could be parked when not in use.

"In order to achieve this we will need to fundraise and if you feel you could continue to support this work, please go to our website www.thebusshelteriow.co.uk or contact us on info@thebusshelteriow.co.uk.

"We can be proud of the fact that this ground-breaking project was started here on our Island and is now being copied by other groups and councils across the UK."