Sobell House-branded double-decker unveiled at hospice site

Oxford Bus Company has unveiled a fully branded double-decker bus showcasing the work of Sobell House Hospice across Oxfordshire.

The charity, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care, and in May, was announced as the winner of Oxford Bus Company’s Brand the Bus competition.

Worth £100,000, the winning prize package includes a full exterior bus wrap, free advertising onboard Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel vehicles, and radio advertising on Get Radio. Sobell House was also named Oxford City Football Club’s charity of choice for the 2026/27 season.

This year marked the eighth edition of Brand the Bus, which attracted 71 entries and then almost 9,000 public votes during the nomination process.

Every year, Sobell House cares for more than 5,000 people with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones to improve quality of life through inpatient, home and hospital care, day services, therapies and emotional support. 

The charity co-established one of the UK’s first modern hospices with the NHS in 1976, and it jointly funds the palliative and end-of-life care services provided by the NHS at Sobell House and across the community.

The specially branded bus was unveiled during a special event at Sobell House’s base at the Churchill Hospital in Headington.

Get Radio broadcast live on the bus as it made its way from the Cowley House depot to Sobell House, and behind the wheel was Oxford Bus Company driver Mark Temple, a regular fundraiser for the hospice.

Patients boarded the fully wrapped bus, accompanied by Sobell House staff and mascot Patch, for a musical singalong through the Churchill Hospital site and around the Headington area.

Beth Marsh, Director of Fundraising at Sobell House Hospice Charity, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the Brand the Bus competition and are thrilled that a Sobell House-branded bus will be travelling throughout Oxfordshire, the community we have been privileged to serve for five decades.

“As a hospice rooted in the local community, we are incredibly proud to see our name and message carried across the county.

“The bus will help us to share our story with thousands of passengers and residents across the county, raise awareness of our work and inspire support for the next 50 years of care.”

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “Sobell House is an incredible charity and was a worthy winner of this year’s Brand the Bus competition.

“It’s been a rewarding experience for the team to work with Sobell House on the design for the bus and we’re proud of the result.

“The key aim of Brand the Bus is to raise awareness and showcase the great work of our local charities and good causes, and we’re really looking forward to seeing the branded bus on Oxfordshire’s roads over the next 12 months.”

The unveiling event for the double-decker was attended by staff from both Oxford Bus Company and Sobell House, plus Brand the Bus charity partners Get Radio and Oxford City FC, and Lord Mayor of Oxford, Chewe Munkonge, who chose Sobell House as one of his two official charities for his term.

Hamish Law, Commercial Director at Get Radio, said: “It’s wonderful to see Sobell House’s message revealed on this bus. The charity makes a huge difference to people and families across Oxfordshire, and we’re proud to help raise awareness of its work through Get Radio.

“We’re looking forward to working with the team over the coming year to help more people understand the care and support Sobell House provides.”

Chris Williams, Head of Partnerships at Oxford City FC, said: “It’s an honour to be involved and Sobell House are a fantastic charity. So many people across Oxfordshire have needed their help over the years and Brand the Bus is a great way to raise awareness and get their message across.”

Brand the Bus allows good causes to have their branding splashed on a double-decker bus, one of the many ways that Oxford Bus Company gives back to the community.

Previous winners of the Brand the Bus competition include Girlguiding Oxfordshire, Home-Start Oxfordshire, Blue Skye Thinking, Restore, SeeSaw, Oxford Hospitals Charity and One-Eighty.