The One-Eighty Bus Has Arrived: Shining a Spotlight on Oxfordshire’s “Ghost Children”
We are incredibly proud to share that the One-Eighty bus is officially on the roads of Oxfordshire: a bold, bright, moving reminder of the thousands of young people currently missing from education, and the urgent need for more support.
Across the county, 16,654 young people are persistently absent from school every year. That’s more than 1 in 10 local children, enough to fill 237 buses. Many are struggling with anxiety, unmet mental health needs, neurodiversity challenges, SEND, or difficult home lives. Too often, these young people fall through the cracks between education and healthcare, becoming what the media calls “ghost children.”
At One-Eighty, we see these challenges every day. Demand for our services has tripled since 2019, and we now deliver over 2,000 one-to-one therapeutic sessions each year, with a 97% success rate in helping young people re-engage with education.
A message from our CEO, Susie Besant
“It is so vital for us to highlight the immense needs young people in our county are facing and share that we exist as a passionate and professional organisation as part of the solution.
“We want to take this opportunity to thank every single person who voted for One-Eighty and who has continued to follow our journey as we strive to seek more support to deliver services which turn young lives around.”
Meeting young people where they are
As the only charity in Oxfordshire specifically bridging the gap between mental health and education for 4–17-year-olds, we meet young people wherever they need us: at home, in school, or in the community. Our proven, therapeutic model helps young people to:
Rebuild confidence
Reconnect with learning
Return to, or stay in, education
We also equip schools and professionals with tools to support pupils early, before things reach crisis point.
Thank you to our partners
We are deeply grateful to the organisations who have helped make this possible:
Oxford Bus Company – for their incredible support and for giving charities this platform through Brand the Bus
Get Radio – for helping amplify our message across the county
Oxford City FC – whose values closely align with ours and who will champion One-Eighty throughout the 2025/26 season
And finally, to the thousands who voted, donated, advocated, and shared our message: thank you. Your support has gotten us here today.
Together, we can ensure fewer young people fall out of education, and more get the support they need to learn, grow, and thrive
Want to see where our bus is right now?
You can follow its live route, view the latest photos and sightings, and celebrate its journey across Oxfordshire here.
