The WOW Bus
From October 2023 to May 2024, the WOW Bus toured across the UK as part of the WOW Girls Festival – welcoming over 6,000 people aboard and transforming streets, schools and community spaces into hubs of creativity, conversation and feminist action.
A vibrant mobile recording studio, classroom and playground-on-wheels, the WOW Bus was designed with and for young people, in partnership with Getaway Girls in Leeds and artist Emma Hardaker. Its mission? To bring WOW’s energy directly into local communities, reaching girls and young people from all backgrounds with a programme built to spark imagination, support wellbeing and explore gender equity. In many locations the bus became a uniquely intergenerational space to discuss gender, with those aged three to 83-years-old.
Some of the mums described the project as 'life changing' for the young people involved. In a social and political climate where things can often feel quite despairing... it's feedback like this that fuels the passion to keep us pushing for change.
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Throughout the tour, the Bus hosted a dynamic mix of activities: from creative workshops and digital experiences to WOW Speed Mentoring, panel talks and recording sessions in its on-board studio. Local artists were at the centre of each visit, bringing their insight and creating a lasting legacy of creativity and connection. With a focus on resilience, identity and mental health, every stop was a celebration of local voices and future leaders. The WOW Bus reached thousands of young people across cities, towns and rural areas in all four nations of the UK, visiting London, Gravesend, Mold, Liverpool, Belfast, Newcastle (County Down), King’s Lynn, Norwich, Attleborough, Glasgow, Perth, Manchester, Bradford, Keighley, Shipley, Salford and Rotherham – before a grand finale celebration at Buckingham Palace, hosted by WOW’s President Her Majesty The Queen.
Though the wheels have stopped turning (for now), the legacy lives on in the voices, stories and dreams it helped bring to life.
95% said it helped develop tools for self-expression & empowerment
95% said it helped build confidence in young people
91% said they developed optimism in their ability to be involved in making positive changes happen
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We hoped to give these rural young people an opportunity to receive something of excellence - excellence is not something they often expect to receive. The WOW team and bus have far exceeded our expectations - THANK YOU! We have so appreciated your faith and support in coming to our rural community. It makes us feel seen (we are a small but hardworking charity in a rural area - so this means more than you know!).
