The idea to acquire a double decker space as an education and learning space came at a time when the Green Workshop needed a different space to continue growing. Following three years of attending fairs, festivals, schools and businesses increasingly we heard people say, "You need a space where we can come and visit you." So we went in search of a home.
We explored premises across the city and found nothing affordable. Someone suggested a mobile library, a single decker bus, even a double decker bus! We continued to search for premises and added a double decker bus to our shopping list. We eventually found a home thanks to a tip off from Vania of Gladrags and received the keys to 39 Manor Hill from the East Brighton Trust in December 2008. We enjoyed eight very successful years there supported by residents of Manor Farm, Whitehawk, the Bristol Estate and further afield.
Lucky for us we had started exploring our earlier dream of owning a double decker bus when we learned we had to vacate No.39. With a sense of urgency we scoured the country from top to bottom monitoring every bus website obsessively. As homelessness approached we discovered a newly painted green double decker bus in our price range which we bought. We've called her Grace. She is a Volvo Olympian.