Latest news with #Megabus
Daily Record
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Model mum who launched first ever festival for single parents takes 'special community' nationwide
Elaine Harris - who was previously a finalist in the UK's Top Model competition - came up with the concept for her one parent family festivals during Covid, with her first held on the outskirts of her hometown of Dundee. A model mum who launched the first ever festival for single parents has seen her 'special community' go nationwide with a string of events. Elaine Harris - who was previously a finalist in the UK's Top Model competition - came up with the concept for her one parent family festivals during Covid, holding her first on the outskirts of her hometown of Dundee. But the event proved so popular that families were travelling hundreds of miles to be there, so the 44-year-old, a single mum to Nina, 12, and Faith, eight, is now holding five events across Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. And more than 700 families have now attended her festivals in just a few years. Elaine said: 'When I started the festivals four years ago, I never imagined that within that time over 700 families would have attended and it would now be nationwide. 'We are a social family but have struggled in the past to find non commercial, family friendly events where costs don't spiral with all the add ons. 'After speaking to other single parents a lot of them admitted that they have not holidayed on their own before, as they have worried about being sat on their own while others were in groups. This is where the idea for Single Parent Festivals was born - a festival where all activities are included in the ticket, there are no vendors and we keep the price as low as we can for everyone.' Elaine is a former catwalk star for major designers and was a finalist in Top Model UK 2014, but she has dedicated much of her spare time in recent years to charity. Before Covid hit, she set up and ran a pop up dental and optical clinic in Cape Verde which helped more than 1,300 children. She took on a string of epic events to fund the mission, cycling solo from John O Groats to Lands End and even making an epic journey to Australia from her house with no money through 15 countries in just 10 days. But when the UK was plunged into lockdown she decided she wanted to do something to help single families like hers. According to One Parent Families Scotland, there are 144,000 single parent families across the country, making up 25% of all families with dependent children. She said: 'I came up with the concept because there were many families struggling during Covid and more so single parent families who didn't have the support. 'I thought it would just be local people when I started it but we soon found people were travelling big distances to come to them. Mums were coming up on the Megabus from London because there was nothing else around.' Last year Elaine branched out into two sites in England and this year she will host events in South Wales and Northern Ireland for the first time. The camping festivals take place over five nights, with morning clubs and creches for kids of all ages included in the price, while parents can relax or try an activity themselves, from bushcraft to reiki. A string of afternoon events, from story telling to laser tag, are also planned, along with musical performances from local musicians and other entertainment running into the evening. Families have the option of a pre-pitched tent and kit to make their stay easier and food is also offered at affordable prices. There's also a dedicated camping spot for families with additional needs, such as autism and ADHD. Elaine said the stress-free approach to holidaying is what makes families return year after year, with up to 100 families attending single events. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. She said: 'We want to take away as much stress as we can from parents so not only kids but adults can enjoy themselves to the max. 'The festival is a way of bringing everyone together and means everyone is in the same situation so it's easier for people to chat away and make friends. We are already building an online community of people who are attending this year's festival - a place where people can get to know others before they arrive.' The Scottish leg of the festival will be held at Douglaswood near Monikie from July 11. Other events will follow in Omagh, Northern Ireland, between July 22-27, in Surrey, south east England, between August 2 and 7, Vale of Glamorgan, in Cardiff, South Wales, between August 12 and 17 and in Leigh, Staffordshire, between August 22 and 27. And the mum, who is single-handedly managing all of the events, says she hopes her venture will only get bigger. She said: 'I do have a team once we're on site now but in the run up it's just me at the moment. I do as much as I can myself to keep the price down. The kids only pay £70 for the week. 'I'm expecting to double our numbers for next year as well. 'The overall goal, once it's on a big enough scale, will be to funnel money so I can continue with the clinic in Africa. But at the moment the focus is on making the festivals as successful as possible.'
Daily Mirror
30-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
New mega-cheap bus route connects London with UK's best seaside cities
FlixBus has rolled out its biggest-ever expansion, which will see significantly more cities and towns connected up by the green goliaths - including tourist hotspot Brighton Forget the idea that coaches are just for seniors and students - travelling across the UK by coach is about to get a significant boost this summer with the introduction of more affordable fares. FlixBus, with its distinctive green buses, is expanding its UK network, which already spans over 80 destinations, including Brighton. As of June 13, new coach services will connect Cambridge, London, Gatwick Airport, and Brighton, operating twice daily. Prices are extremely competitive, with tickets between London and Brighton starting at £4.49 and those between Gatwick and Brighton available from £3.49. The journey from London to Brighton takes approximately two and a half hours - an hour longer than the train - but at a fraction of the cost. FlixBus is also introducing a direct service between Cambridge and London, running four times a day, to cater to the growing demand for tourism. Andreas Schorling, Senior Managing Director of FlixBus UK, expressed his enthusiasm for the new services: "Brighton is such a vibrant, inclusive city, especially during the summer, and we can't wait to offer passengers the chance to visit for the first time on our network." "The people of Brighton will now have a fantastic service to central London, Cambridge and Gatwick. Known for its dedication to sustainability, it's a perfect match for FlixBus. "Londoners now have even more affordable, sustainable, and reliable travel options for weekend getaways, airport connections, and visiting friends and family this summer." Brighton has been named as one of Time Out's top 50 cities in the world to visit in 2025, boasting attractions such as the iconic pier, the Royal Pavilion and its beach. FlixBus has been busy throughout spring 2025, rolling out its largest expansion yet, adding new destinations including popular holiday spots like Bournemouth, Newquay and Truro. The company now operates over 200 coaches across England, Scotland and Wales, providing nationwide travel that is sustainable, reliable and affordable. Tickets can be purchased at or via the FlixBus app. With a fleet of 200 coaches, FlixBus' business is thriving, generating a turnover of £1.7 billion from 81 million passengers worldwide each year. "This feels like a new golden age for coach travel", says Schorling. "Over five million UK passengers have travelled with us since we launched three years ago and they keep coming back. By next summer, we'll have over 200 vehicles on the road, more than twice the size of the Megabus network at their peak." According to TimeOut, FlixBus has managed to achieve something that Megabus couldn't. It writes: "It's made getting a coach - dare we say it - chic?". "It would seem unlikely that a bus could build and sustain a place in pop-culture" says Eglantina Becheru, Director of Brand & Creative at FlixBus. "But against the odds, Flix has created one."
BBC News
23-06-2025
- BBC News
The weird and wonderful things left on buses
Have you ever got off the bus and realised you left something behind? Well according to travel company Megabus, more than 450 items were left on their buses in just one month including an historic coins and stamp collection and a jar of honey. Other items left by people in the past include three hay bales, a pair of false teeth and a frozen turkey! We want to know if you've ever left anything strange anywhere. Maybe you've found some odd lost property on a bus yourself - let us know in the comments below. Other items handed into the Megabus lost property office have included socks, only one shoe from a pair and a cooking wok. Megabus receptionist Angela said: "Over many years of dealing with an eclectic mix of lost property items. "Every now and again we still get something handed in that surprises us!"
Glasgow Times
22-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Megabus reveals surprising lost property left on Glasgow coaches
The lost property office was contacted in May about 469 lost pieces, with 95 per cent of items being reunited with their owners. (Image: Supplied) Some items forgotten last month included car keys, wireless headphones, Lego sets, a jar of honey, insulin, an electric shaver, and a lone trainer. There was also a Winnie the Pooh plush, a collection of historic coins and stamps, and a guitar. Read more: Kneecap's Mo Chara expected to request Irish translator following court room blunder 'She had incredible courage': Provost opens up on mother's MND battle Glasgow's new tourist tax approved - here's how much visitors will be charged Over the years, the team has recorded some weird and wonderful items, including three bales of hay, family tree documents, and a cooking wok. (Image: Supplied) Angela, a receptionist with Megabus, said: "Over many years of dealing with an eclectic mix of lost property items, our lost property team have almost become immune to weird and wonderful finds, but every now and again we still get something handed in that surprises us. (Image: Supplied) 'The most important thing of course is to try and make sure we can reunite as many of the items as possible with their owners and we work hard to do that as we know how frustrating, and upsetting, it can be to lose something while travelling.' Items not claimed are kept for 28 days and then often donated to charity.
UPI
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Items left on British buses include bales of hay, a frozen turkey
June 20 (UPI) -- British transport company Megabus is sharing some of the most unusual pieces of lost property left behind on its buses, including hay bales, a frozen turkey, a cooking wok and false teeth. The bus operator said items found left behind on buses in May included a Winnie the Pooh stuffed toy, a jar of honey, a guitar, a Radiohead vinyl record, insulin, an electric razor, a Neil Diamond CD, a single shoe and a collection of historic coins and stamps. The company said some of the more unusual items left on buses in years past included three bales of hay, family tree documents, a frozen turkey, false teeth, a cooking wok and multiple lone shoes and socks. Megabus said about 95% of lost and found items are eventually returned to their owners, and those that go unclaimed after 28 days are usually donated to charity. Anyone who loses an item on a Megabus vehicle is encouraged to report their lost property on the company's website.
