SUMMARY

OUAB Community Interest Company (CIC), is a subsidiary of Once Upon a Bus, who operate in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, West London and surrounding areas, providing immersive storytelling sessions that align with the National Curriculum.

Age-inclusive interactive sessions incorporate audio/visual projections, props, costumed characters and live narration to inspire and foster literacy and communication skills for children aged 0-12 and their parents/carers/educators. Current activities include school workshops, pop-up community events like Maidenhead's Big Read and Barnes Film Festival, as well as themed sessions for local celebrations and festivals. Primarily, the project has served diverse schools across and beyond the borough, such as Manor Green School, Waltham St Lawrence Primary School, Claires Court, St George's School, and Eagle House, as well as groups like the East Berkshire Down's Syndrome Support Group and The Thames Hospice.

The expansion outlined below* builds on this solid foundation, responding to a growing demand for accessible, human-centric education and learning, at a time dominated by social media, where device addiction is proving a real challenge for schools and literacy skills are in sharp decline. It emphasises real-world “edutainment" (blending education with entertaining experiences) to improve engagement and learning outcomes across the board.

We are seeking funding from grants, philanthropists, and corporate partners that will enable free services, with any surpluses reinvested into expansion, such as adapted vehicles and new modules, rather than distributed for private gain. For the purposes of this illustration we have focussed on Amazon as a key partner, in order to illustrate how the vision could be realised for the benefit of all parties concerned.  Close proximity to Bray Film Studios, acquired by Amazon MGM in 2024, presents an ideal opportunity for our target partnership; one that would allow a partner to support much needed local education initiatives that align with its origins in books/literacy and current media production.

* Our detailed 5 year plan is available on request

BACKGROUND

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead faces notable challenges in literacy and motivation to learn among young students, families, and communities, with data indicating persistent declines exacerbated by post-pandemic effects.

For instance, in 2023/24, only 60% of Key Stage 2 pupils achieved the expected standard in combined reading, writing, and maths, down from the previous year and below pre-2019 levels. Disadvantaged pupils fare worse, with just 30% meeting standards, creating a 36-percentage-point gap compared to non-disadvantaged peers, wider than the national average of 22%.

Writing attainment has specifically declined locally, while national figures rose slightly. Broader community trends reflect reduced motivation, with persistent school absences in primary settings increasing and reading enjoyment among UK children consistently dropping, since 2005.

Family engagement is similarly affected, as lower socioeconomic groups show diminished cognitive stimulation and motivation to read and learn, linked to factors like deprivation and social in-cohesion impacting up to 20% of RBWM families in high-need areas. These issues risk long-term educational inequities, reduced community cohesion, and economic strain on local families and institutions. (1)

VISION

Based in Bray-on-Thames since 2014, on the fringe of the iconic Film Studios, Once Upon a Bus, a mobile education initiative delivering interactive storytelling via a customised double-decker bus, is well positioned to address these challenges through proven, targeted and (eventually) accessible interventions. By blending education with entertainment, our innovative programs foster literacy skills, boost engagement, and build family involvement in both well-resourced and underserved areas

With corporate sponsorship from entities such as Shanly Homes, Summerleaze, IHG, or Amazon MGM [owners of Bray Film Studios, our target sponsor in this instance], the initiative can scale to provide free services, ensuring broad reach without financial barriers for those most in need. For example, partnering could leverage Amazon's plentiful resources to offset local impacts from studio operations, while aligning with their book-selling origins and media expertise, to secure community goodwill and ongoing support as they expand their commercial estate - whilst also addressing a larger societal challenge.

STRATEGIES

Funding from a significant sponsor will enable a multi-faceted approach, starting with needs-based assessments to prioritise disadvantaged schools and communities. Core elements include:

• Mobile Interventions for Literacy Boost
  Deploy bespoke accessible vehicles equipped with audio-visual tools for on-site sessions, offering 200+ free workshops annually. These immersive storytelling experiences will target early literacy gaps by engaging children aged 0-12 in curriculum-aligned narratives that improve phonics and reading proficiency.

• Resource Development and Distribution
  Create and freely provide inspiring learning materials, including digital "project kits" and adaptive tools for special educational needs, to schools. This addresses literacy/writing declines and motivation drops, (where daily reading has halved nationally since 2005), by encouraging family use at home. Back to basics!

• Educator and Family Training
  Deliver no-cost workshops and training to educators and parents in storytelling, scriptwriting, and media production. This builds capacity to sustain motivation, tackling family influences like parental education levels that correlate with children's language engagement. Community outreach events in public spaces could reach 2,000 residents annually, fostering intergenerational learning to mitigate absence-driven disengagement.

• Media and Mentoring Expansion
  Partnering with Amazon, for example, to co-develop educational media, such as videos and podcasts, drawing on Bray Studios' infrastructure. This extends reach online, addressing broader UK trends of declining reading for pleasure (under 25% in 2024), while establishing mentoring networks for 200+ educators to support long-term skill-building.

BENEFITS

This collaboration yields mutual gains. For RBWM schools and communities, it narrows attainment gaps, enhances motivation, and promotes equity, with measurable outcomes like improved literacy metrics and reduced absences. Families benefit from accessible, engaging resources that strengthen home-school ties, reducing risks in one-parent or deprived households.

For Once Upon a Bus, sponsorship secures funding over five years, enabling operational scaling, revenue from paid services elsewhere, and a sustainable model eventually reaching 25,000+ learners annually.

Sponsors gain by mitigating community disruptions, commercial activities, noise/light pollution,  traffic or employment shifts, while reinforcing their brand through pro-active literacy initiatives; boosting local support for their ambitions via co-branded events and high profile ongoing PR.

Ultimately, this partnership transforms local literacy challenges into opportunities for growth, creating a sustained and resilient, educated community. By investing in learning, all parties contribute to a shared legacy of local human empowerment - In short,  we would love to talk to you, share our story so far, our vision for the future, and our commitment to making our community a better place.

Interested parties are invited to collaborate:

Contact arti@sharmagrey.com or call direct on +44 (0)7912 101 619

1. Figures are drawn from RBWM's Standards and Quality of Education Report (2024/25), Education Data Pack (2023/24), and Children and Young People's Plan (2023), alongside national benchmarks from the Department for Education and National Literacy Trust.

"Once Upon a Bus came to be part of the prestigious Children's Literature Festival at Eagle House School. The magic and creativity of Arti and Matthew could not be faulted as they narrated and shared stories with children over the two days. Boys and girls entering the bus are taken to a new world and the brilliance is that the bus evolves into whatever theme has been planned. From the moment they assemble outside to watch the magical Bubble Man, the children are entranced. Arti's characters are played out brilliantly and she leads them on a journey through the bus, reading and sharing and fully immersing children into the world of storytelling. We could not have been more delighted with the response from the children after their adventures on Once Upon a Bus. They have not stopped talking about their experience and there is no doubt that the bus helped make our Festival a huge success. If your children love stories they will adore the bus and I would urge you to let it park up at your school and create its magic."

Matthew Edwards
Head of English, Eagle House School, Sandhurst UK

Once Upon a Bus Community Interest Company (OUAB CIC) will deliver a range of free or subsidised services focused on educational storytelling and community enrichment. These activities prioritise accessibility for disadvantaged groups in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) and surrounding areas, aligning with the CIC's community interest objectives. All mobile workshops will utilise our original customised double-decker bus equipped for immersive, interactive sessions, with adaptations and new vehicles planned for future accessibility needs.

1. Free Mobile Storytelling Workshops for State Schools in RBWM

OUAB CIC will provide complimentary storytelling workshops to state-funded schools within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, with priority given to those serving higher proportions of pupils eligible for pupil premium funding, those with diverse cultural or linguistic backgrounds, and schools identified as requiring improvement or support (based on Ofsted reports, attainment data, or local authority assessments). Workshops will be tailored to National Curriculum themes, using "The Whale, The Star, and The Campfire" model to engage children aged 0-12 in literacy, environmental awareness, scientific inquiry, and social-emotional learning. Sessions will last 20–45 minutes per group, accommodating entire year cohorts or forms, and include sensory elements, participatory reading, and curriculum-aligned activities to boost engagement and outcomes for underserved learners.

2. Free Mobile Storytelling Workshops for Charitable Events

The company will offer free storytelling sessions to charitable events organized to raise funds for community benefit or registered charities. These sessions will support fundraising efforts while promoting literacy and creativity among attendees. Past examples include collaborations with Thames Hospice (a specialist palliative care provider) and Alexander Devine Children's Hospice, where storytelling has enhanced event atmospheres and community involvement. Workshops will be customised to suit event themes, audience ages, and fundraising goals, ensuring alignment with charitable objectives.

3. Free Mobile Storytelling Workshops for Disability and Special Needs Organizations

OUAB CIC will deliver no-cost storytelling workshops to special educational needs (SEN) schools, disability support groups, and related events. These sessions aim to enrich daily school life, support therapeutic or developmental goals, and assist in fundraising for the organizations. Scripts and delivery methods will be adapted to meet identified needs, such as sensory considerations, simplified language, or inclusive participation techniques. Future funding will enable the acquisition and modification of an accessible vehicle to ensure equal access for all participants, building on existing engagements with organisations such as Manor Green School, TVAP (Thames Valley Adventure Playground), and Mohawk Camp.

4. Free Community Events and Outreach

The company will organise and support free community storytelling initiatives in disadvantaged areas of RBWM, scheduled on a weekly or regular basis at fixed times and public locations (e.g., parks, libraries, or community centres). These pop-up events will provide open-access sessions to families and residents, fostering intergenerational learning and social connection. Additionally, OUAB CIC will contribute storytelling support to charitable community events, including established initiatives such as Maidenhead’s Big Read (an annual reading and literacy festival), Thames Hospice fundraisers, Parallel Windsor activities, and Alexander Devine events. This outreach will extend the educational benefits of storytelling beyond schools, targeting broader community participation in areas with lower engagement or attainment.

5. Teacher Training Programs

OUAB CIC will deliver free or low-cost professional development workshops for teachers in RBWM schools (with priority for those in high-need settings). Training will focus on adopting storytelling techniques to engage learners across different year groups and abilities. Educators will learn practical methods from "The Whale, The Star, and The Campfire" model, including story adaptation for curriculum integration, vocal projection and confidence-building exercises, and strategies for transforming classroom environments to enhance interaction and retention. Sessions will be conducted without the bus where required, enabling schools to sustain learnt practices independently and extend impact to daily teaching.

These service deliveries form the operational core of OUAB CIC, ensuring that resources are directed toward measurable community benefits such as improved literacy, reduced educational inequalities, and stronger social cohesion. All activities will be monitored through participant feedback, attendance data, and outcome metrics to demonstrate ongoing alignment with the CIC's community interest statement.

Interested parties are invited to collaborate:

Contact arti@sharmagrey.com or call direct on +44 (0)7912 101 619

Once Upon a Bus ® is a self-contained mobile project designed to provide an engaging space in which to learn about and explore the many facets of language and communication, through traditional storytelling. The vehicle has been designed and refitted to the highest specifications to provide distinct, exciting spaces  to promote both the desire and the ability to learn. State-of-the-art audio technology and visual projections provide an immersive experience that entertains, captivates and inspires our audiences without compromising the real-world, face-to-face environment and traditional storytelling values that underpin the project's vision.

𝓲  The original designs for the Once Upon a Bus stained-glass windows were generously gifted by Chicago based creative photographer Ken Schulze. Ken's beautiful imagery helps to create a shifting, natural light environment that imbues every storytelling experience with an analogue dream-like quality that is both soothing and inspiring.

"The transformation of the bus is amazing. For 20 years I tried to become a writer with a lot of disappointing stops and starts. So it's gratifying to think that photos of mine may have a positive, if subliminal, effect on a future generation of storytellers. Who knows? One day, in a roundabout way, thanks to your efforts, both of us might have some small effect on English literature and cinema. Best wishes for the continual success of your project."

Ken Schulze, Photographer, Chicago 2014

"Once Upon a Bus is a unique, fun-filled educational experience for children right across the primary age range. As Teacher and now Headteacher of Waltham St. Lawrence Primary School, I have seen the positive impact that the sessions can have both on an individual class basis and across the school as a whole. Once Upon a Bus sessions are interactive, engaging and most of all fun, allowing the children time to explore learning in a setting which feels very different from the structured classroom. The children emerge from the sessions feeling like they have been in a different world and the Once Upon a Bus experience is one that stays with them throughout their primary education. At Waltham St. Lawrence Primary School we love Once Upon a Bus... It’s the way learning should be!"

David Errington
Headteacher
Waltham St Lawrence Primary School