Having recently started volunteering for the SOS Bus in Colchester, I have come to appreciate their work more than ever before. It might look like they are just there for people who have drunk too much or did not wear sensible shoes for a night out, but they deal with so much more each shift.

I am amazed at the work my fellow volunteers do during weekend nights, and was extremely impressed by the estimate of how much money they save the NHS every year between caring for people who are not fit to go home and providing an on-site medic.

The SOS Bus is only one of the great services they provide to communities in Suffolk and Essex.

I believe small and local charities that make such a big impact whilst often going unnoticed deserve our attention and support.