Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has unveiled a specially dedicated bus in partnership with its 2026 Charity of the Year, When You Wish Upon a Star, celebrating the remarkable legacy of its inspirational founder, Barbara White OBE.
The ‘Wish Bus’ is dedicated in tribute to Barbara, who established the charity in 1990 with a simple but powerful mission: to bring joy, hope, and unforgettable experiences to children living with life-threatening illnesses. Over the past three decades, her vision and determination have helped grant more than 19,000 wishes, creating precious memories for families during some of life’s most difficult moments.
Through tireless fundraising and unwavering dedication, Barbara has been instrumental in raising millions of pounds to support this life-changing work. Her outstanding contribution to charity and to the lives of thousands of families has been widely recognised, including being awarded an OBE for services to charity and receiving an honorary degree from Nottingham Trent University in Summer 2025.
This year also marks Barbara’s 70th birthday, a milestone reflecting a lifetime of compassion, resilience, and achievement.
In partnership with When You Wish Upon a Star, NCT dedicated the ‘Wish Bus’ in her honour during a special unveiling outside her home on 28th April 2026. The surprise event has been planned to celebrate Barbara in a personal and memorable way, and will serve as a fitting tribute to a woman whose kindness has touched thousands of lives and continues to inspire all who hear her story.
Joe Williamson, Chief Executive Officer at When You Wish Upon a Star said “When You Wish Upon a Star is deeply rooted across Nottingham thanks to the incredible work of our Founder Barbara White, it is an incredibly exciting time for the charity as we continue grant wishes for so many deserving children, thanks to partnerships like this with Nottingham City Transport we can really amplify the incredibly important work that we do, the bus provides us with a fantastic amount of awareness for the children and families we serve.”
Representatives from NCT and the team at When You Wish Upon a Star were in attendance, including the charity’s ambassador, Ellie Leach, a former Coronation Street actress and Strictly Come Dancing winner, who joined the unveiling of the ‘Wish Bus’.
NCT staff vote for an annual Charity of the Year, with When You Wish Upon a Star the charity its team voted for 2026.