View the Gallery - 2026

 

Gallery of Entrants

Make sure you visit this page regularly, and check out the gallery of entries below - vote for your favourite!

The 10 entries who receive the most votes from members of the public will be shortlisted. A final winner will then be selected by a panel of judges. We'll announce the winner and work with them to design their bus!

Vote Here

Entries

 

ENTRY O1

MyVision Oxfordshire - Supporting Visually Impaired People - MyVision Oxfordshire

MyVision Oxfordshire

Submitted by: Margaret Hart

About MyVision Oxfordshire: Navigating a world designed by sighted people is not easy when you have a visual impairment. MyVision Oxfordshire provides the estimated 26,310 blind and visually impaired people across the county with services, support, tools, and skills they need to make everyday life and tasks easier.

Our services and projects include information and advice, social groups, technology training, events and information for children and young people, and befriending partnerships.

All our services contribute to our overall aim: to ensure local visually impaired people have the practical skills, support, and emotional resilience to live independent, active lives.

Website: www.myvision.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? A diagnosis of sight loss can be extremely distressing, and it is often difficult to know where to turn to, or who to ask if you have questions. Many blind and visually impaired people face digital exclusion when accessing the internet, information is not always accessible, and so it’s harder for them to discover what support is out there.

It does not have to be this way. Branding a bus, and having the wonderful opportunity to work with Get Radio and Oxford City would give us invaluable visibility within the county, making it much easier for local visually impaired people who may not know about us learn who we are and how we can support them in their sight loss journey. With this visibility, we could reach even more people, so that as many local blind and visually impaired people as possible can benefit from our services, and live life to the fullest.

Voting for us to Brand the Bus would be crucial to helping improve the independence, confidence, and wellbeing of blind and visually impaired people living in Oxfordshire – thank you.

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Entry 02

Alzheimer's Society

Alzheimer's Oxfordshire

Submitted By: Georgia Thornton

About Alzheimer's Society: Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity, and our expertise means that we’re equipped to deliver meaningful change for people affected by dementia. Every day, nearly one million people are faced with the endless challenges that dementia poses, and as their condition progresses, they are left frightened and vulnerable.

We support people from day one of their dementia journey, providing vital information and guidance to help them get a diagnosis and adjust to life with the condition. We invest in research to find new treatments, improve care, and develop innovations that help people stay independent for longer. We also campaign for the rights of those affected, pushing for better social care, improved diagnosis, and increased research funding. Our vision is to end the devastation caused by dementia, ensuring more people can live well with the condition for longer. We act now to reduce crises and improve people’s daily experiences.

Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK, and one in three people born today are expected to develop the condition. To put this into perspective, on a double‑decker bus carrying 80 passengers, approximately 27 of them would be expected to face dementia in their lifetime.

For far too long, people living with dementia have been left to navigate profound health and social care inequalities without the support they deserve. With a struggling social care system and manifesto pledges hanging in the balance, the need to amplify the voices of people living with dementia has never been more urgent.

A dementia diagnosis can be devastating, and no two experiences are the same. Personalised support is pivotal for people living with dementia. As the condition progresses, their needs and challenges deepen, often leading to points of acute but avoidable crisis. Receiving the right support at the right time is crucial.

By branding a bus, we have the opportunity to take our message directly into the heart of our community, making dementia visible, opening conversations, and reaching people who may not yet know where to turn. This is not just awareness raising; it is a powerful platform for change.
With your support, we can campaign louder, reach further, and show every person affected by dementia that they are not alone. Your support will help us drive this movement forward ensuring that more families receive the understanding, advocacy, and hope they urgently need.

Only together can we beat dementia, by giving vital support to those who need it, funding groundbreaking research, and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be. All of us deserve to see hope become reality.

It will take a society to beat dementia. Alzheimer’s Society.

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Down Syndrome Oxfordshire

Submitted by: Andrew Fearnside

About Down Syndrome Oxfordshire: Down’s Syndrome Oxford is organised and funded by parents and supporters to provide information, help and activities for children and adults with Down’s Syndrome and their families in the Oxfordshire area.

Members of DSO are children and adults with Down’s Syndrome, their parents, carers and supporters of the charity plus many key professionals such as physiotherapists, pre-school teacher councillors, teaching assistants, health visitors and other people working in the community – anyone with a passion for supporting people with Down’s Syndrome.

Website: www.dsoxfordshire.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? For nearly 23 years DSO has been a small charity supporting the whole of Oxfordshire. 2 years ago we faced a cross roads. Scale back or expand. With the help of our dedicated parents and trustees we pulled our resources and as of the 31st of March we will become a CIO charity. We will transform from Downs Syndrome Oxford to DOWN SYNDROME OXFORDSHIRE!
This is a massive step forward for us so branding a bus would really help boost us into this next chapter of our journey and hopefully gain us some new sponsors for the future.

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Age UK Oxfordshire

Submitted by: Emma Duckett

About Age UK Oxfordshire: We are a local, independent charity working for a fairer later life in Oxfordshire. We challenge ageism, tackle inequality, and ensure older people and unpaid carers are seen, heard, included and valued.

With limited resources, and a rapidly ageing population, we focus our efforts where they are needed most - supporting people living in poverty, experiencing loneliness, facing illness or disability, or caring for someone who is.

We provide practical help, trusted advice, and a strong voice for those who are too often overlooked. From combating isolation and improving wellbeing to helping people access the support they are entitled to, our work makes a tangible difference to thousands of lives across the county. As Oxfordshire continues to age, our work has never been more important: ensuring that later life is not defined by disadvantage, but by dignity, connection and opportunity.

Website: www.ageuk.org.uk/oxfordshire

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding an Oxford Bus Company bus with our charity’s message would be a bold and meaningful step towards creating a fairer later life for people across Oxfordshire. As a local, independent charity, we work hard to challenge ageism, tackle inequality, and ensure older people and unpaid carers feel seen, supported and valued. Yet too many people who could benefit from our help still don’t know we exist. A branded bus would change that.

Every day, thousands of people travel around the county. Seeing our message moving through these communities would raise awareness on a scale we simply cannot achieve alone. It would help us reach those who may be struggling in silence with poverty, loneliness, ill health, or caring responsibilities, giving them the confidence to seek support. It would also help us challenge ageism publicly, sparking conversations about later life and encouraging people of all ages to think differently about getting older, creating a more positive and inclusive view of ageing in Oxfordshire.

For older people themselves, seeing their experiences recognised and represented in such a visible way would be empowering, affirming that they are valued members of our community. For supporters, volunteers and partners, it would be a warm invitation to join us in creating meaningful change.

Most importantly, greater awareness leads to greater impact. More people reaching out. More carers finding strength. More voices standing with us.

Branding a bus wouldn’t just raise our profile - it would carry our mission across the county, helping us build a fairer, kinder Oxfordshire for everyone growing older.

Thank you for helping us create a fairer later life for people across Oxfordshire.

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ARCh Assisted Reading for Children

Submitted by: Emma Orton

About ARCh Assisted Reading for Children: Assisted Reading for Children (ARCh) is an award-winning registered charity based in Oxfordshire, England, dedicated to helping primary school pupils who struggle with reading. It recruits, trains and supports volunteers to work one-to-one with children in Oxfordshire schools, typically in two sessions per week over the course of a school year. These trained Reading Helpers spend time sharing books, reading together and using games and conversation to make reading enjoyable and build confidence and literacy skills. ARCh works with hundreds of volunteers supporting hundreds of children across Oxfordshire, especially in areas of disadvantage where reading attainment is lower. Schools involved report significant improvements in children’s reading ability, self-esteem and enthusiasm for learning. To celebrate the National Year of Reading in 2026, we aim to support 1000 children across the year!

Website: www.archoxfordshire.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Winning would be transformative for ARCh. As a small, local charity with no advertising budget, the opportunity to be featured on an Oxford bus would give us a powerful public platform that we simply could not otherwise afford. It would shine a spotlight on the urgent need to support children who struggle with reading and highlight how vital this life skill is for their confidence, education and future opportunities.
During the National Year of Reading, we are determined to recruit a record number of volunteers, and winning would help us reach residents, students and businesses across Oxfordshire in a visible, inspiring way. Seeing ARCh travelling through the city would spark conversations, raise awareness and encourage more people to step forward as Reading Helpers.
Most importantly, winning would mean more volunteers, more one-to-one support, and ultimately more Oxford children discovering the joy and life-changing power of reading.

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Oxford City Farm | Social Farms & Gardens

Oxford City Farm

Submitted by: Claudia Cirlig

About Oxford City Farm: Oxford City Farm is a vibrant community hub that connects people with food, farming, and nature to improve well being and environmental awareness. Nestled in the heart of Oxford, our 2.5-acre site has transformed from a derelict school ground into a thriving urban farm. Through sustainable farming practices, educational programmes and volunteer opportunities.

We empower individuals of all ages to grow, cook, and share nutritious food.

We provide a welcoming space where marginalised groups, including those with disabilities, mental health challenges or experiencing isolation, can build confidence, learn new skills and find a sense of belonging. In 2025, we had over 13,170 visits to our Friday and Saturday farming sessions, 1500+ school children visiting the site and donated over 924 kg of produce to community groups.
By balancing open-access opportunities with targeted nurture sessions, we ensure that everyone has the chance to thrive.

Website: www.oxfordcityfarm.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding a bus would bring much-needed visibility to our mission, inspiring more people to get involved and benefit from our work.

Oxford City Farm remains one of Oxford’s best-kept secrets, despite its transformative impact on the local community. The Brand the Bus scheme would be a game-changer, significantly increasing our visibility and allowing us to reach thousands more people across Oxford and get them involved in our community farming session every Friday and Saturday.

With a fully wrapped double-decker bus carrying our message across the city, we could inspire more people to visit, volunteer, and support our mission. Many residents are unaware that Oxford City Farm exists, let alone the range of life-enhancing opportunities we offer—from weekly volunteering and cooking workshops to supported well being sessions and school visits.

A branded bus would elevate our presence, reinforcing our role as a key community asset tackling health inequalities, food insecurity and social isolation. The additional onboard and radio advertising would further extend our reach, allowing us to connect with new audiences, including families, young people and potential partners. Strengthening these partnerships is critical to our success—we have collaborated with more than 30 organisations over the last year alone to deliver high-impact programmes that make a tangible difference in people’s lives and we want to reach more.

We have witnessed firsthand how engagement with the farm can transform lives. Volunteers and participants often arrive feeling isolated or lacking confidence and leave with a renewed sense of purpose, practical skills, and meaningful connections.

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Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary

Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary

Submitted by: Jessica Harris

About Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary: This charity is a wonderful local charity that does many good things for Oxfordshire animals and I know that they were always in desperate need of extra publicity and as they are inundated with poor little animals that need Home animals can’t advocate for themselves so it’s very important that charities and the people at those charities can advocate for better welfare for animals that have often been neglected and discarded by their owners. There are a lot of really good people at this charity that works so hard and that is the reason why I think this charity is so important and deserves the extra publish publicity. Oxfordshire animal century is full of lots of really hard-working people that deserve a helping hand. And as animals make such a difference to people’s mental health, animal charities often get put in second place to peoples charities and health charities and I think there’s a fundamentally wrong as humans gained so much from the love of animals . I think it’s more than a worthwhile charity.

Website: www.oxfordshireanimalsanctuary.org.uk/

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Oxford animal sanctuary, although they are well established are actually not a well-known charity due to the fact that money is very scarce for them because obviously they have fever bills which have enormously inflated in price in the last two years, food husbandry to pay for all these animals and that takes a considerable amount of funds away from marketing and publicising the charity. In the last 12 to 18 months there has been a huge increase in animals that have been discarded by their owners due to financial pressures in the economy and that has amounted for a very large proportion of these poor animals that are brought into this sanctuary. There is also a big problem with breeders reading unnecessarily and extra publicity could help this by advertising to the average public that rescuing is always the best for animal welfare.

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Team Mikayla

Submitted by: Natasha Beames

About Team Mikayla: Team mikayla is a charity that grants wishes to children fighting cancer. At 4 hospital across the UK: JR Oxford, Bristol. Nottingham and Leicester. Mikayla herself has been fighting brain cancer since she was 4 years old as she continues her own battle with cancer she grants wishes to other children fighting cancer. Mikayla was the youngest on the the new year honours list 2025

Website: www.teammikayla.org

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? It will certainly make people aware of our charity work.

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Witney in Pink

Submitted by: Alex Simpson

About Witney in Pink: Witney in Pink is a long-standing community fundraiser in Witney, Oxfordshire that supports the charity Against Breast Cancer by raising awareness and vital funds for breast cancer research. Each year, the town “turns pink” with shops, streets, and residents decorating in pink and hosting activities such as pink car parades, tombolas, cake stalls and live entertainment to bring people together for the cause.
Started in 2000 by local resident Jeanne Chattoe, who was personally affected by the disease, the event has grown from a small cake stall to a major annual tradition. Over the past 25+ years it has raised well over £300,000 for Against Breast Cancer, helping fund research into earlier diagnosis, better treatments and ultimately a future free from breast cancer.
Witney in Pink celebrates community spirit, remembrance and hope while actively supporting life-saving research.

Website: www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding on a bus would mean a great deal to the Witney in Pink committee because it would dramatically increase visibility for their cause across the local area. As a community-driven fundraiser supporting Against Breast Cancer, public awareness is central to everything they do.

A bus wrapped in pink branding would act as a moving symbol of solidarity, spreading their message beyond the town centre and reaching neighbouring villages. It would help promote the annual event, encouraging more people to participate, and potentially attract new sponsors and volunteers. For a committee made up solely of local volunteers, seeing their branding displayed so prominently would also be a powerful recognition of years of hard work and dedication.

In past years, Witney’s bus drivers have proudly honoured the day by wearing pink ties and scarves, showing their personal support for the cause. A fully branded bus would build on this tradition, turning that gesture of pride into a bold public statement of unity, remembrance and hope in the fight against breast cancer.

It would reinforce Witney’s identity as a town that comes together for an important cause — turning everyday travel into a visible reminder of hope, remembrance, and support for breast cancer research.

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Oxford Sea Cadets

Submitted by: Kayleigh Robbins

About Oxford Sea Cadets: Oxford Sea Cadets is a volunteer-run youth charity supporting 59 young people aged 10–17 from across Oxfordshire. We provide a safe, structured environment where young people can learn new skills, gain confidence and develop a strong sense of teamwork and responsibility.

Through a programme inspired by the Royal Navy, cadets take part in naval-based training, water activities, leadership development and adventure, while also working towards recognised qualifications including BTEC and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Beyond qualifications, we focus on building confidence, resilience, discipline and respect – life skills that help young people succeed in education, work and life.

For many cadets, the unit becomes a place to belong, grow and believe in themselves. As a volunteer-led charity, we rely on community support to provide equipment, training and opportunities that help young people reach their full potential.

Website: www.sea-cadets.org/oxford

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding a bus would be transformational for Oxford Sea Cadets.

As a volunteer-led youth charity, awareness is one of our biggest challenges. Many families in Oxfordshire simply do not realise that Sea Cadets exists locally or that young people aged 10–17 can join and take part in the incredible opportunities we offer.

A fully branded bus travelling across Oxfordshire would give us year-round visibility in the communities we serve, helping more young people discover the unit and the opportunities available to them. For some young people, joining Sea Cadets becomes a turning point – giving them confidence, structure, new friendships and experiences they may never otherwise have.

The exposure would also help us reach potential volunteers, supporters and local partners, which are essential for a charity like ours. Everything we do is delivered by dedicated volunteers who give their time to train and mentor the cadets.

Increased awareness would help us grow sustainably, allowing more young people to access naval training, adventure activities, BTEC qualifications and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, while developing teamwork, resilience and leadership.

Most importantly, it would highlight the positive impact young people in Oxford are achieving. Seeing cadets represented proudly across the county would celebrate their achievements and inspire the next generation to get involved.

For our cadets, their families and our volunteers, a branded bus travelling through Oxfordshire would be a powerful reminder that local young people are capable of extraordinary things when given the opportunity.

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Root & Branch

Submitted by: Karen Sutton

About Root & Branch: Root & Branch Westmill is a therapeutic gardening and rural craft charity based at Westmill Farm near Watchfield. We support adults living with complex and enduring mental health difficulties including depression, anxiety, trauma and severe isolation.

Our centre provides a calm and welcoming space where people can rebuild confidence and wellbeing through nature-based activities such as gardening, woodworking, crafts and cookery. Many of the people who attend have experienced long periods of poor mental health and isolation, and Root & Branch offers a safe community where they can reconnect with others and take small steps towards recovery.

Around 35 people attend sessions each week, supported by skilled staff and volunteers who work alongside participants in a relaxed outdoor environment.

Root & Branch helps people rediscover purpose, build confidence and move forward with their lives. For many, it is the first step back into community life and improved wellbeing.

Website: www.rootandbranch.info

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding a bus would be an extraordinary opportunity for Root & Branch and for the wider community we support. Mental health difficulties can be deeply isolating, and many people struggle silently without knowing where to turn for help. For a small charity like ours, the chance to have our message travelling across Oxfordshire would be incredibly powerful.

Seeing a bus carrying the message of Root & Branch would show clearly and visibly that support exists. It would help people understand that there is a welcoming place where they can reconnect with nature, rebuild confidence and find a sense of belonging again. For those experiencing isolation or poor mental health, simply seeing that message could plant a small seed of hope.

A bus moves through towns, villages and communities every day, reaching people who might never come across our charity otherwise. Families, carers and professionals would also see that support is available locally and that Root & Branch is here to help.

It would also help challenge the stigma that still surrounds mental health. By placing this message in such a visible and everyday space, it tells people that mental health matters and that communities care.

For our participants, seeing their charity represented so proudly across Oxfordshire would be incredibly uplifting. It would show that their recovery journeys matter and that the work happening quietly within our garden is recognised as something valuable and important.

Branding a bus would allow the message of Root & Branch to travel far beyond our gates, reaching people who may need it most.
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Bicester Autism/ADHD

Submitted by: Harriet Smith

About Bicester Autism/ADHD: Bicester Autism/ADHD provides a safe, supportive, and inclusive space for neurodivergent children and their families in the local area. It is a true lifeline to so many people. From family trips, to support for parents, to invaluable advocacy, to fun groups, this charity provides free and heavily subsidised services to vulnerable families who need it most. The team of volunteers running it are absolute life savers.
Every single week there is something for its members and both new and existing families are welcomed with open arms. They offer playgroups and group sessions, outings, workshops, a listening ear. Everything neurodivergent families navigating life, education, work, and socialising could possibly need. For some families, the weekly sessions are enough to make the rest of the week feel survivable.

Website: www.bicesterautismadhd.co.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? It would mean everything. The organisation could reach more families in need. The additional awareness could provide much needed support to people who have no idea where to turn to for help. It could also generate extra interest and therefore donations or just awareness. All of this increases the opportunity for Bicester Autism/ADHD to serve the local neurodivergent community.
There is still so much stigma surrounding autism and ADHD, and every little bit of awareness can help destigmatise it, and ultimately bring about more support and understanding, which can quite literally save lives.

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Style Acre

Submitted by: Lisa Hanton

About Style Acre: At Style Acre, we support over 270 adults with learning disabilities and/or autism in Oxfordshire to live the life they choose. Our mission is simple but powerful: to create supportive, creative environments where people are valued as equals, can grow in confidence, reach for the stars and fulfil their potential.

Our person-centred approach focuses on each individual’s abilities, dreams, interests, and goals. Whether learning practical life skills, exploring creativity through art or music, building friendships, or taking steps into volunteering or employment.

Across our 36 supported living homes, community hubs, social enterprises, garden project, and wellbeing programme, we create safe, inspiring spaces where people can try new things, grow, and feel proud of what they achieve.

Style Acre provide a unique offer to people with learning disabilities and/or autism in Oxfordshire and we take pride in the fact we are ‘big enough to cope but small enough to care’.

Website: www.styleacre.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding a bus for Style Acre would be so much more than a moving advert, it would be a celebration of inclusion, and community. Every journey across Oxfordshire would showcase the talents, creativity, and achievements of the 270 adults we support, highlighting their independence and the unique abilities each person has.

It wouldn’t just advertise our charity; it would spark conversations, inspire support, and spread awareness about the opportunities that everyone deserves, reminding the public that people with learning disabilities are valued, capable, and fully part of the community. That people with learning disabilities are not defined by limits but by their talents, dreams, and contributions.

This is a chance to make Style Acre’s message travel across Oxfordshire, celebrating achievements that might otherwise go unnoticed. It would give the people we support, staff and volunteers a sense of pride, empowerment, and show that inclusion isn’t just an idea; it’s something we live every day. The bus would carry a message that matters - that everyone deserves the chance to shine, be themselves, and belong.

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SSNAP

Submitted by: Donna Khan

About SSNAP: SSNAP (Supporting Sick Newborns and their Parents) is a UK charity that helps babies receiving specialist neonatal care and supports their families during a difficult time. The organisation works mainly with the neonatal unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford

SSNAP provides essential equipment and funding to improve the care of premature and seriously ill newborn babies. This includes advanced medical equipment, comfort items for babies, and resources that help medical staff give the best possible treatment. The charity also focuses on supporting parents, recognising that having a baby in neonatal intensive care can be very stressful.

They offer practical and emotional support to families, such as free accommodation near the hospital, meal vouchers, and family support services so parents can stay close to their babies. SSNAP also funds research, training for neonatal staff, and improvements to hospital facilities.

Overall, SSNAP helps ensure that sick newborn babies receive high-quality care while supporting parents through one of the most challenging experiences of their lives.

Website: www.ssnap.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Winning the competition to have SSNAP’s brand displayed on a bus would be a powerful opportunity to raise awareness of SSNAP (Supporting Sick Newborns and their Parents) and the vital work the charity does for families with sick and premature babies. As a charity that supports the neonatal unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, visibility in the local community is extremely important.

Having the SSNAP brand on a bus travelling through Oxford and surrounding areas would help thousands of people see the charity’s message every day. Many people are unaware of how common premature birth and neonatal care needs are, so this exposure would help educate the public about the challenges faced by sick newborns and their parents. Increased awareness can also encourage more people to learn about the charity and the services it provides.

For SSNAP, this kind of visibility could also inspire greater community support. When people see the brand regularly while commuting, shopping, or travelling around the city, it can prompt them to donate, volunteer, or take part in fundraising events. This support is essential because SSNAP relies heavily on donations to fund medical equipment, research, staff training, and family support services.

It would also help families who may need the charity in the future. Seeing the SSNAP name on a bus could reassure parents that support exists if their baby requires neonatal care. In moments of uncertainty or fear, simply knowing that an organisation is there to help can make a big difference.

Overall, having the SSNAP brand displayed on a bus would strengthen the charity’s presence in the Oxford community, increase public awareness, and help generate the support needed to continue improving care for sick newborn babies and their families.

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Riverside Counselling Service

Submitted by: Michaela Clarke

About Riverside Counselling Service:  Riverside Counselling Service is a mental health charity operating in South Oxfordshire. We have been providing mental health support to the local community since 1989. Our purpose is to improve the mental wellbeing of our local community through the provision of affordable and accessible therapeutic services for those who face the most barriers in accessing support.

Website: www.riversidecounsellingservice.co.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? As a small charity, opportunities like this are incredibly valuable. Having our branding on a bus would significantly increase awareness of our charity. It would put mental health support in front of thousands of people every day and help ensure more people know that help is available. For someone struggling with their mental health, simply seeing a message of support while travelling or walking through town could be the moment they realise they are not alone and that help is available.

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Sobell House Hospice Charity

Submitted by: Becca Thomson

About Sobell House: Sobell House exists to provide excellent palliative and end-of-life care to adults in Oxfordshire who face a life-limiting illness. Our mission is to enrich the lives of our patients and those who love and care for them through a range of services, on our inpatient unit, in local hospitals and in people’s homes. We help people to live as well as they can for as long as they can, and, when the time comes, help them have a ‘good death’.

We work in partnership with the NHS, and as a charity we provide funding to run key services that wouldn’t exist otherwise, enhancing the provision that the hospice can offer. Together, with the support of our community, we enable care that is high-quality, personalised and kind.

Website: www.sobellhouse.org

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding a bus would deliver a powerful and reassuring message to thousands, telling people that excellent palliative and end-of-life care is available to all in our county.

2026 marks a special milestone for Sobell House, as we celebrate 50 years of caring for our community. For half a century, we have provided care to those with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones, supporting them with expertise, compassion and kindness. Our care is focused on each individual’s needs and what matters most to them. This commitment has always remained the same since the day our hospice first opened.

From caring for 181 people in 1976, to around 4,000 people annually today, our service has expanded significantly. Though we have existed for 50 years, supported faithfully by local people giving their time, money and skills, many in our community still do not know we exist until the moment they need us. A branded bus and working with Get Radio and Oxford City, would change that through vital awareness raising. It would help ensure that our community is equipped with the knowledge that help is available if they ever face the emotional and practical challenges of a life-limiting illness.

It’s a challenging time for hospices across the UK, including Sobell House. There is an ever-increasing demand for services and need to increase funding to support this. Awareness raising is not just helpful, it’s key to people accessing care earlier, understanding choices available to them and highlights the importance of community generosity in sustaining our hospice for the next 50 years.

Branding a bus gets our message out there that there is excellent specialist care available to all. And it highlights the power of what local support has and can achieve, and its vital role in keeping Sobell House running for years to come.

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Crisis UK

Submitted by: Emma Darlington

About Crisis UK: Crisis is a national charity working to end homelessness in the UK. It provides practical support to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, including housing advice, employment support, education, and wellbeing services. Through its network of Skylight centres, including services supporting people across Oxfordshire, Crisis helps individuals build skills, improve confidence, and move into secure, stable housing.

At Crisis Skylight Oxford we support around 500 people every year to help them with their journey out of homelessness.

There are now over 300,000 people experiencing the worst forms of homelessness across Great Britain and without awareness we can’t make a change.

Website: www.crisis.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding a bus for Crisis would be a powerful way to raise awareness of the work being done locally by Crisis Oxford to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. A branded bus travelling across the city and wider Oxfordshire area would increase visibility of the organisation, helping more people understand the support available, such as housing advice, employment guidance and wellbeing services. It would also highlight the issue of homelessness within the community, encouraging public engagement, reducing stigma and potentially inspiring donations, volunteering and partnerships. Overall, bus branding would act as a moving platform to promote Crisis Oxford’s mission and ensure more people in the local community know where to turn for help.

No one can tell you how much of an impact this partnership would have more than one of our members.

After a relationship breakdown led him to move into his mum’s flat, 49-year-old Simon ended up staying there for years and as his mum became unwell it was hard for him to have steady income as he became her carer. When she passed away, the landlord wouldn’t let Simon continue living there, and he was evicted.

“I was forced to rough sleep on the streets. I quickly lost all hope, and was having suicidal thoughts, especially as the cold winter drew in. Everything happened so fast, there was no time to get help. But after a chance encounter, I went to Crisis, I gained new skills, made friends and found a purpose. After month of support, I was able to secure my very own flat and get a new career. Putting that key in the door – my door – was unforgettable.”

If you work with us you will help us give people like Simon that key to the front door of their own home.

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Oxfordshire Homeless Movement

Submitted by: Yvonne Pinner

About Oxfordshire Homeless Movement: We are the partnership of all the organisations helping people across Oxfordshire who are homeless. We guide people who need help, or know someone who is, how to get that help. We also guide those who want to help how to do that most effectively.
OHM's project work fills the critical gaps in services that others can’t, and always working in partnership means that we have the best team for the job. We won't initiate a project where one of our partners is already providing a service - the aim is to avoid duplication and signpost to the best resources.
Our best team includes those with lived experience of homelessness. Being guided by people who have personally experienced homelessness through our Lived Experience Advisory Forum means our work remains relevant and needed.
Our partnership was established because life is simpler when we work together.

Website: www.oxfordshirehomelessmovement.org

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? OHM is resourced with a small team of volunteers, one staff member and a steering committee and together, we make a big impact. With our core costs paid for by a donor, all the funds we raise pay for our project work.
This opportunity to be advertised so widely would be an enormous and much needed boost for our charity as we don’t have a dedicated marketing budget - this is to ensure that we don’t have to spend any of our own money on anything but our projects.
One of our key roles is to ensure that the people who need help can find it. Also ensuring that people wanting to offer help (by giving time, things or money) are guided how best to do that with maximum impact. It is therefore vitally important that as many people, in either of these groups, know about and can find our website. What better way to ensure this than to be advertised all over buses locally.
Our website, which has been described as exceptional, is the only place where all the services available to people who are homeless are captured and kept up to date and we pride ourselves on its accuracy.
The more people that visit our website, the more people we can guide to get the help they need and the more people who offer help, can get that kindness accepted.
If people head over the website and can’t find the answer they are looking for, or just want to ask for some additional advice - we are there to make sure that they get the information that they need.

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Connection Support

Submitted by: Natalie Carr

About Connection Support: Connection Support began in 1995 with just five people who believed they could make a real difference by preventing homelessness in Oxfordshire – and they were right. Over the past 30 years, we’ve grown to deliver more than 30 services across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire, supporting over 5,400 people each year.

While our roots are in homelessness and housing support, we recognise that many people face multiple challenges, including mental ill-health, substance misuse and past trauma. Through compassionate, trauma-informed support, we help individuals build the skills and confidence they need to move forward.

We support a wide range of people, including young people, families, prison leavers, people leaving hospital, and refugees. From early intervention to crisis response, the focus is on helping people stabilise their lives and avoid future crises.

By focusing on empowerment, we enable people to secure safe housing, regain independence and build stronger, more stable futures.

Website: www.connectionsupport.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding a bus would significantly increase awareness of Connection Support and the vital services we provide to people facing homelessness, housing instability and poor mental health. As the number of people experiencing crises continues to rise, raising awareness is crucial to ensure those who need help know where to turn.

Over the past 30 years, we have supported thousands of people, but we know that responding to a crisis alone is not enough. Our focus is increasingly on prevention – supporting individuals and families earlier by strengthening relationships, promoting wellbeing, building resilience and addressing housing issues before they escalate into homelessness or serious mental ill-health.

However, achieving this requires us to grow our fundraising income. Many of our services have traditionally relied on statutory funding, but with continued budget pressures, we must develop alternative funding streams to expand our work.

Bus branding would give Connection Support a visible presence in the community, helping more people learn about our services while also raising our profile with potential supporters and partners. This increased awareness would help us secure the resources needed to develop innovative projects that tackle the root causes of crisis and support people before they reach breaking point.

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Maggie's Oxford

Submitted by: Sophie Coyle

About Maggie's Oxford: Maggie’s Oxford exists to provide free, expert, and compassionate support to people living with cancer, as well as their families and friends. We offer a safe, welcoming, and non-clinical space where people can find emotional, practical, and psychological support at every stage of their cancer journey. We help people make sense of their diagnosis, manage uncertainty, and regain a sense of control in their lives. We believe that no one should have to face cancer alone, and that kindness and understanding are as essential as medical treatment. Rooted in the local community and working alongside NHS services, we are committed to reducing isolation, building resilience, and enabling people affected by cancer to live as fully and confidently as possible. Our programme is always free, you don't need an appointment and we welcome anyone affected by cancer for as long as they need us. Just come in! The kettle is always on.

Website: www.maggies.org/our-centres/maggies-oxford

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Cancer can be the most frightening experience of someone’s life. It affects everything from emotions and relationships to work, identity and finances. At Maggie’s Oxford, we support people with the challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis. Our expert team helps visitors manage money worries, cope with stress and depression, understand treatment side effects, and support the whole family. Everything we offer is free, and people can access practical and emotional support under one roof.

We know our support makes a real difference. After a survey conducted at the Oxford centre in 2024, we found that 96% of centre visitors said they improved their understanding of cancer, and 94% felt more confident speaking with family and friends about their diagnosis.

Brand the Bus would be both a powerful and visually striking way to ensure more people across Oxfordshire know that Maggie’s Oxford exists and that support is available. Many people who could benefit from our services simply don’t know we are here, particularly those who are not regularly visiting the hospital site.

Seeing Maggie’s across public transport would help raise awareness in communities, reduce the isolation people often feel after diagnosis, and encourage more individuals and families to reach out for support that is often overlooked. It would not only be a marketing opportunity but a visible community statement: that no one in Oxfordshire has to face cancer alone.

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St John Ambulance

Submitted by: Becky Morrey

About St John Ambulance: St John Ambulance Oxfordshire provides vital first aid, medical support, and community services across the county. The area also benefits from an active volunteer network, with units in Banbury, Kidlington and Oxford forming the North & West Oxfordshire and Central & South Oxfordshire Networks. Volunteers regularly support public events, deliver first aid cover, and participate in large‑scale operations such as the London Marathon. Youth development is a key strength, with Badgers and Cadets gaining confidence, technical skills and a strong sense of service through structured training and hands‑on learning. Together, these teams contribute to a resilient, community‑focused organisation that promotes lifesaving skills, supports local healthcare, and empowers people of all ages to help others across Oxfordshire.

Website: www.sja.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Winning the Brand the Bus Oxford competition would be a transformative opportunity for St John Ambulance Oxfordshire, significantly amplifying the visibility and impact of its lifesaving work across the county.

For St  John Ambulance Oxfordshire, this elevated public profile would directly support efforts to attract new volunteers, helping the organisation grow its capacity and widen its range of services. Increased awareness would enable recruitment of both adult volunteers and youth members, expanding teams such as Community First Aiders, Cadets, and Badgers, groups already proven to make significant contributions to community resilience and emergency support. A stronger volunteer base would, in turn, create more opportunities to cover a broader and more diverse range of events, strengthening the clinical skills, confidence, and scope of volunteers through exposure to varied real‑world situations.
With branding travelling throughout the county, St John Ambulance Oxfordshire would be able to deepen its presence in local communities, supporting greater engagement and forging new partnerships.

Ultimately, winning the competition would help St John Ambulance Oxfordshire grow its ability to deliver first aid education, event medical cover, and emergency response, while strengthening its reputation as a trusted, community‑driven charity. Increased visibility, recruitment potential, and enhanced community links would position the charity to deliver even greater impact, ensuring more people across Oxfordshire are supported, protected, and empowered with lifesaving skills.

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My Life My Choice

Submitted by: Kumudu Perera & Megan Brown

About My Life My Choice: My Life My Choice is an award‑winning, user‑led charity in Oxfordshire that empowers people with learning disabilities to speak up, fight prejudice, and take control of their lives. Founded in 1998, the organisation is run by and for people with learning disabilities, including a board of 15 trustees with lived experience. Its mission is to ensure that members’ voices are heard by professionals, services, and the wider community, while promoting independence, rights, and meaningful participation.
The Gig Buddy project pairs adults with learning disabilities with volunteers who share similar interests in music, nightlife, and social events. By attending gigs, clubs, and cultural activities together, buddies build genuine friendships and reduce social isolation. The project opens doors to community life, boosts confidence, and ensures that everyone has the chance to enjoy the same social opportunities as their peers.

Website: www.mylifemychoice.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding a bus would be transformational for My Life My Choice. As a user‑led charity run by people with learning disabilities, visibility is everything. A branded bus travelling across Oxfordshire would amplify our members’ voices, challenge prejudice, and proudly show that people with learning disabilities belong at the heart of our community.
For our Gig Buddy project, it would be a game‑changer. Many adults with learning disabilities experience loneliness and social isolation. Seeing our message on a bus would help us reach new volunteers, new members, and new partners who can help us create real friendships and unforgettable nights out. We have a long list of members waiting to be matched with a volunteer!
The bus would carry a message of inclusion, empowerment, and equality. It would be a moving celebration of the people we support and a bold reminder that everyone deserves the chance to live life to the full.

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WaterAid

Submitted by: Nicholas Rubies

About WaterAid: A charity that provides clean water mainly in developing countries by installing water taps and promoting good hygiene.

Website: www.wateraid.org

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? It would mean better public awareness of a what should be a fundamental human right, access to clean water.

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Cats Protection

Submitted by: Craig Smith

About Cats Protection: Cats Protection Oxford & District Branch take cats at risk of homelessness or in need of help into their care, where they are fed, sheltered and rehabilitated, and ultimately rehomed to their new forever family. The branch does not have a centre; all cats fostered in volunteers' homes.

Website: www.cats.org.uk/oxford

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Raising awareness is important for all charities, but is vital for Cats Protection. The only way for these cats to find their forever homes is for people to come forward and adopt them, and that is only possible if people know that the charity is there. A bus would mean that far more people are aware of the wonderful work the charity does, and most importantly of the cats that are in need of homes.

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Ultimate Picture Palace

Submitted by: Evan Nedyalkov

About the Ultimate Picture Palace: The UPP is not a charity, but a community-owned ltd. Over 1200 local people are now shareholders, and the cinema was recently recognised as an Asset of Community Value. It shows classic and independent films, which cannot be seen anywhere else in Oxford. It hosts events for the community: some of the recent ones I have attended were showings of short films by Ruskin students, an event promotic ethical fruit picking practices and the people who sell it in Oxford, an event for asylum seekers, and an event promoting trade unions with a film telling the history of the minor strikes. The UPP also supports local businesses by stocking almost exclusively local stock (cakes from Barefoot bakery, ice-cream from G&D, coffee from Missing Bean, etc.).

Website: www.uppcinema.com

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Despite all the above, the UPP is currently under threat of closure due to Oriel College's redevelopment plans. A campaign to save it has gathered 12,000 signatures in the first week, and drawn attention from huge names in cinema. As many have passionately written, it would be an absolute travesty for it to close down for the sake of more student accommodation, and it would be the beginning of the end of Cowley Road. Sadly, Oriel is very influential and has a lot more money, so the UPP needs all the help they can get. Support and advertising from OBC could help save this important Oxford cultural institution, which has stood since 1911.

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Wolvercote Young People's Club

Submitted by: Anna Kroening

About Wolvercote Young People's Club: They do wonderful work with local children. After school clubs, holiday camps, summer camps.

Website: www.wypc.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? I think it would mean a lot, they don’t get enough funding and if more people and organisations know about them that would help.

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Oxfordshire MS Therapy Centre

Submitted by: Deborah Clements

About Oxfordshire MS Therapy Centre: The OMSTC is a small charity offering complimentary therapies & support to MS patients - massage, physiotherapy & acupuncture. There is also an Oxygen Chamber which benefits not only those with MS, but other conditions such as cancer & sports injuries.

Website: www.omstc.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Hopefully It would get the Centre noticed by more people who may not be familiar with it, and raise much needed funds.
My daughter has MS and goes for weekly Oxygen Therapy.

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Oxford Mutual Aid

Submitted by: Rui Rodriges

About Oxford Mutual Aid: Oxford Mutual Aid is a community organisation which grew from a network of experienced LGBTQ and trade union organisers, together with members of local community support groups. They work to support their peers and neighbours in Oxford, primarily through the provision of food support.

Website: www.oxfordmutualaid.org

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Bring awareness both to those needing support and to potential donors.

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Abingdon Rugby Club

Submitted by: Graham McDonough

About Abingdon Rugby Club: Abingdon RFC is home to two senior men's teams, a veterans' team, a women's team, and over 130 youth players. The youth section welcomes players from age 6 to 18, having grown from humble beginnings to become a thriving junior programme. The club is committed to providing grassroots sporting opportunities for the whole community, promoting physical activity, teamwork, and inclusion across all ages and abilities.

The club is currently embarking on a new changing room project to support our women teams.

Website: www.abingdonrfc.rfu.club

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Abingdon RFC has been part of this community since 1957. But despite all of that, plenty of local families still don't know we exist, or assume rugby isn't for them.

Branding a bus travelling daily through Abingdon would change that. Unlike a social media post or a flyer, a wrapped bus reaches people just going about their day, on the school run, popping to the shops, heading to work. It puts us in front of thousands of people each week without asking anything of them.

The difference that makes is real and practical. More young people finding out about the club for the first time. More families realising there's a welcoming, affordable sport on their doorstep. More volunteers stepping forward to help run our junior programme. And a clearer message to anyone who's ever felt sport wasn't for them that Abingdon RFC is open to everyone.

We're a volunteer-run club and proud of it, but that also means there are things we simply can't fund ourselves.

Nearly 70 years in, we're still growing and still passionate about what community rugby can do for people. This funding would help us reach the people who haven't found us yet — and that's exactly who we want to be playing for.

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Restore

Submitted by: Mary Wooliams

About Restore: Restore supports individuals to recover from mental health conditions through a variety of means including activities such as support groups, individual support, coaching, etc.

Website: www.restore.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Promotion of the organisation would raise awareness amongst the public of the organisation and how it can support individuals and their carers.

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Banburyshire Citizen Project

Submitted by: Andy Willis

About Banburyshire Citizen Project: BCP helps the poor, elderly disabled, people with mental health difficulties with benefit advice and form filling. We are based in an area of high social deprivation. Our charity helps people with Blue badge applications and career counselling.

Website: www.banburyshirecitizenproject.org

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? It would mean the world to us as we help people across Oxfordshire, raise the profile of the charity especially as it’s our 10th anniversary and 25th anniversary of our founder Andy Willis BCAv volunteering in the community.

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Reducing the Risk

Submitted by: Carrie-Anne Bishop

About Reducing the Risk: Reducing the risk is a domestic abuse organisation that helps women leave abusive relationships it helps with finding refuges,the have a legal team to help with non mols through the courts they help victims/ survivors find therapy sessions and other courses to give survivors the tools to move forward in life after the abuse I feel strongly about this organisation as a survivor they helped to change mine and my children’s lives.

Website: www.reducingtherisk.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? It would mean more people would be made aware of the organisation, and for the organisation itself would mean they could continue the amazing work they do within and around Oxford as they are charity funded.

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Thames Valley Air Ambulance

Submitted by: Elise Furkins

About Thames Valley Air Ambulance: The thames valley air ambulance save many lives a day, They are critical to our well being and dedicate themselves to the role, Despite it being heavily underfunded with only donations from us and zero government funding.

Website: www.tvairambulance.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? This organisation runs solely on our community giving to the charity, it’s a complete voluntary charity who do not receive any government funding. Every member of staff, equipment, and all the behind the scenes costs purely rely on us donating.

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Homeless Oxfordshire

Submitted by: Laura Magawly

About Homeless Oxfordshire: Homeless Oxfordshire provides an open door for people whose lives have been shaped by trauma and disadvantage; offering safety, stability and support when it is needed most.

We are the county’s largest not-for-profit provider of supported accommodation for people experiencing homelessness. Beyond bricks and mortar, we are also specialists in supporting those whose complex needs are often the result of life-long challenges such as poverty, childhood trauma, substance and alcohol use, institutional care, and deep social exclusion.

Our residents are mothers, brothers, aunties, cousins. They are artists, cooks, teachers, veterans. We walk alongside people on their journey through homelessness for as long as it takes to rebuild their lives because there is always the potential for things to be different.

Website: www.homelessoxfordshire.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? For Homeless Oxfordshire, the opportunity to display our branding on a daily basis would be truly transformative. As a small, locally-focused charity funded largely through donations, we must prioritise directing our income to where it is needed most - supporting people experiencing homelessness across Oxfordshire. This inevitably limits our marketing budget, meaning we would not ordinarily have the resources to achieve the level of visibility and reach that this opportunity offers.

Beyond increasing awareness of Homeless Oxfordshire’s mission - to see the potential for change and provide support where it is needed most - this exposure would also shine a light on homelessness across the region and help challenge common misconceptions. Over the past five years, there has been an estimated 69% increase in the number of households in Oxfordshire considered to be homeless. Many of those affected are individuals with complex needs, often shaped by long-term challenges such as poverty and childhood trauma. A branded bus would carry these important messages through the very streets and communities where our services make a difference, reaching thousands of people every day.

This level of visibility would not only strengthen public recognition and trust, but also inspire greater support through donations, volunteering, and community engagement. For example, if just 100 people who saw the bus chose to donate £25, it would fund a week’s worth of daily meals for all residents at our O’Hanlon House hostel on Luther Street in Oxford.

Ultimately, a branded bus would amplify Homeless Oxfordshire’s voice, helping us connect more effectively with the public and expand the number of people we are able to support across the county.

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Response

Submitted by: Emma Murphy

About Response: At Response, we change lives through mental health support and safe housing. For more than 60 years, we have worked alongside people facing some of the toughest challenges, offering practical help, stability and a path forward.

We operate across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, supporting people aged 11 through to later life. Our services include tailored mental health support, crisis care, supported housing and community-based programmes that help people rebuild confidence and independence.

Every day, we see the difference this makes. People move from crisis to stability, from isolation to connection, and from uncertainty to a place they can call home. Our work reduces pressure on the NHS, prevents homelessness and supports people to live well in their communities.

Free branding on a bus would help us reach more people, raise awareness of mental health, and ensure those who need support know where to turn.

Website: www.response.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding a bus would give Response a powerful way to reach people who may not know that support is available. Every day, our teams meet people who have struggled in silence, often unaware that help exists or unsure how to ask for it. A bus moving through local communities would put our message in front of thousands of people, making it clear that mental health support and safe housing are within reach.

It would also help reduce stigma. Seeing mental health talked about openly, in everyday spaces, helps normalise those conversations. It tells people that it’s okay to need support and that they are not alone.

For Response, this is about more than visibility. It is about connection. A branded bus would help us reach individuals earlier, before problems escalate into crisis. It would support our work to prevent homelessness, reduce hospital admissions and ease pressure on other services.

It would also strengthen our presence across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, helping partners, families and communities better understand what we do and how to access support.

Most importantly, it would help us reach the people who need us most. Someone sitting on that bus, walking past it, or stuck in traffic beside it, might see a message that resonates. It could be the moment they realise there is somewhere to turn, and that simple moment could change the course of their life.

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British Heart Foundation

Submitted by: Alex Chen

About the British Heart Foundation: The organisation supports research in cardiovascular disease in the UK.

Website: www.bhf.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Turning a bus into a moving advertisement or awareness‑raising asset, using BHF’s visual identity, messages, and campaign materials. While the search results do not mention bus branding specifically, they give clear insight into how BHF uses branding and why it matters for them.

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Asylum Welcome

Submitted by: Dai Richards

About Asylum Welcome: Asylum Welcome supports asylum seekers and refugees in Oxfordshire. British law requires that those genuinely fleeing war or oppression may seek asylum in the UK. But the asylum process is long and tricky. While applying to stay in the UK, asylum seekers are not allowed to work. They receive about £50 a week to live on. With few contacts, often with language difficulties, and invariably with no capital, asylum seekers must negotiate a complex legal route to obtain refugee status.
Asylum Welcome is a well-run charity. It has many well-trained volunteers of high quality and expertise. who assist asylum seekers through the asylum process, help them find schools for their children, offer English lessons by qualified teachers, etc.; and help refugees to find a place to rent/live, assist them in their attempt to find work etc.

Website: www.asylum-welcome.org

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? It would make more people aware of the charity and likely attract some to donate or volunteer. It might also raise the spirits of asylum seekers to see the charity they trust celebrated on the side of a local bus.

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Oxford City Angels

Submitted by: Casey Alves

About Oxford City Angels: Oxford City Angels are a voluntary service with a primary function of supporting the safety & security of women in the nighttime economy.

Website: www.oxfordcityangels.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to the organisation? I am one of the volunteers for OCA, and it would mean so much to us to be able to brand a bus! We volunteer from 10pm to 4am on select Saturday nights to help support the safety of women (and, really, anyone that needs us) and would love to have the opportunity to get our name out there and be known to as many people as possible to extend our reach and our help!

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SOFEA

Submitted by: James Plunket

About SOFEA: SOFEA provides trauma-informed education, employability skills training and therapeutic wellbeing support to around 200 NEET young people aged 16-25, each year. Most young people have experienced challenging early years and face social and emotional barriers as they progress into adulthood.
SOFEA also redistributes surplus food to 26 Community Larders and 85 voluntary organisations across Oxfordshire and the wider Thames Valley from its Didcot warehouse, helping to alleviate the cost of living crisis for those experiencing food poverty.

Website: www.sofea.uk.com

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? SOFEA's Community Larders and food partners are situated in areas covered by the Oxford Bus Company's bus routes. Promoting the charity's support for families experiencing food poverty during a cost of living crisis is vital. A branded bus would provide the most visual means of letting people know that help is at hand, that they should not have to go without, that children can be fed before school and that other support is available to them at the Larders (including financial and debt advice, employability skills training, social prescribing and signposting to other support services).
A branded bus would provide excellent stories for SOFEA's social media, web site, e-news bulletins and printed newsletter. It would provide opportunities to capture real stories from families that use the bus and benefit from SOFEA's support. Members of the food and Community Larder teams could travel to supported neighbourhoods and use creative PR to describe people's "journeys" as they navigate household budgets and access the financial and social benefits of the Community Larder.

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Young Lives vs Cancer

Submitted by: Ella Wilkes

About Young Lives vs Cancer: A charity that supports 0-25 year olds on their battles against cancer. My baby cousin had cancer at birth so this means a lot to me as it was something that affected our whole family and now he’s fought it and is cancer free.

Website: www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Spread awareness, and provide people with help and support they didn’t know they could get.

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The Archway Foundation

Submitted by: Angelo Fernandes

About the Archway Foundation: Loneliness reduces life expectancy, affects mental and physical health, reduces social cohesion and affects 50,000 people across Oxfordshire. We are a local, grassroots charity who have been changing that for 43 years. Our volunteers support anyone affected by loneliness including older adults, people with mental and physical health needs, young people and people from ethnic minority groups. We want to help create a county where everyone is accepted and feels as if they belong.

Website: www.archwayfoundation.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? It would help us highlight the issue of loneliness which is endemic in our society, helping everyone become more aware of the impact of social disconnection and alienation. It will help increase the number of people who are able to volunteer for and support our charity. Most importantly, it will help people in need of support become aware of our services.

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Adventure Plus

Submitted by: Sara Martin

About Adventure Plus: Adventure Plus exists to help children and young people reach their full potential and make positive life choices, providing outdoor education and adventure in a positive Christian environment. We aim to provide the highest quality courses, in line with each client’s specific needs. Through our activities we want to see young people grow in self-confidence and develop a range of important personal and social skills, as well as acquiring an interest and technical skills in the exciting activities we offer. In todays digital age we believe that providing young people with opportunities to improve their mental and physical wellbeing in the great outdoors will be more important than ever.

Website: www.adventureplus.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? We are building an Adventure Base in Oxfordshire and our current project is digging a 4 acre lake for adventure sports and conservation, so that we can reach more young people than ever before with our transformative programmes. Consequently, most of our funds are currently being channelled towards the site development and supporting young people with bursaries. Spreading the word in this amazingly impactful way would make a HUGE difference to us, potentially bringing in more supporters and encouraging our team and the young people we work with. We are a local charity working with over 7000 children and young people a year and we are looking to improve adventure facilities in Oxfordshire and to improve biodiversity in the area. We would never be able to afford this kind of exposure and it would mean the world to the team here to increase the awareness and support for this incredible facility!

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Emmaus Oxford

Submitted by: Laura Bristow

About Emmaus Oxford: Emmaus Oxford helps people out of homelessness for good. We support adult men and women who are experiencing homelessness in Oxford by providing:
• A Home: We provide each person with their own room and all food and basic needs.
• Purpose: People living at Emmaus are given the role of companion carrying out meaningful work in our social enterprise, empowering them to contribute to the community.
• Support: Addressing underlying issues like addiction and mental health.
• Health: Promoting physical well-being through sports and fitness.
• Future: Training, qualifications, and employment support.
• Stability: Tools to prevent future homelessness, including budgeting and tenancy guidance

Website: www.emmaus.org.uk/oxford

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Emmaus Oxford have been helping people out of homelessness since 2009. This year we have updated our branding with new logos and colours. It is also a celebration year for us as this summer we open 2 new houses so we can provide more accommodation and enhanced support.
As the Brand the Bus charity for 2026 we could:
Increase our visibility and awareness: It is important that our new logo and colours are seen by the local community so we can continue to be recognised as the charity that ends homelessness for good.
Community Engagement: As passengers make their journey on the bus, we would like to share with them some of the personal journeys from homelessness to happiness.
Recruitment: We have lots of opportunities for volunteers, particularly in our social enterprise store and with increased awareness and engagement we can recruit more helpers.
Outreach: It is vital that our message is seen not just by potential supporters, but by the people who could benefit from our help. Anyone who is facing homelessness or in need can come to our outreach evenings for support.
New Partnerships: Emmaus Oxford would value the opportunity to work with Get Radio and Oxford City Football Club, using the power of the radio to share our mission and stories, and maybe set up a football match with our Emmaus football team who train every week as part of our Healthy Hearts project for people who have experienced homelessness.

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Greater Leys Football Club

Submitted by: Haneef Mohomed

About Greater Leys Football Club: Supporting local children in football trainings for affordable.

Website: www.greaterleysfc.org

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? The club actively supports local grassroots football. When we moved to Oxford, my children lacked friends and desperately wanted to engage with football because they loved playing, even though they weren’t skilled at the time. After joining the club, they made many friends and significantly improved their football abilities.

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Oxford Hospitals Charity

Submitted by: Annie Simy Pulickal Xavier

About Oxford Hospitals Charity: It does a lot of good work helping people who are in need and sick generously and contribute to the society in healthcare wherent the health of the people can be restored and even their families. In turn our societies and nation as such will become healthy and it’s an asset for any country.

Website: www.hospitalcharity.co.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? It helps others to know about it more and more aswell to have a thought of contributing in economically or by their physical presence as a volunteer.

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Kaleidoscopic UK

Submitted by: Helen Dodwell

About Kaleidoscopic UK: Kaleidoscopic UK are a charitable organisation of survivors for survivors of domestic abuse in ALL its forms. They are based in the Thames Valley and provide support services throughout England and Wales. The founder has recently been awarded The Kings Award for her work.

Website: www.kaleidoscopic.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Despite already being well known throughout certain parts of the area, Kaleidoscopic UK really need some extra exposure, especially within Oxfordshire. As a survivor myself, and having been supported by them for over a year, and now working along side them to spread awareness, I know how important it is to know someone is out there that can help. We meet often and already do crafts etc, so coming with the branding for the bus would be amazing!

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Opportunity International UK

Submitted by: Thomas Beattie

About Opportunity International UK: Opportunity International UK envisions a world in which all people can achieve a life free from poverty, with dignity and purpose. We all deserve to hold our heads high, to send our children to school, to have a say in our households. But without access to basic financial services, people are often trapped in the cycle of poverty.

For over twenty years, we have been proudly based in central Oxford, working with partners across some of the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa. From this city, we support farmers, refugees, mothers and young people through access to savings, small business loans, and practical training. Our innovations in agriculture, education and technology help people to build businesses, creating jobs for their neighbours and opportunities for their community.

Opportunity’s work creates real change, built from the ground up. Not handouts. Not short-term fixes. Just the tools people need to build secure, independent futures.

Website: www.opportunity.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding a bus would be transformational for Opportunity International UK. As an organisation with global reach but limited local visibility, it would boldly introduce our work to thousands of people.

Oxford is a city defined by its global outlook. With one of the highest ethnic minority populations in the Southeast and over 35% of residents born outside the UK, many people here have personal, family or cultural connections to the communities we work with across sub-Saharan Africa. Branding a bus would reflect and celebrate that diversity — linking Oxford’s community to stories of resilience and entrepreneurship from around the world.

For over two decades, our Oxford-based team has worked with partners in Africa and beyond to deliver practical training and support to help families build sustainable livelihoods and break the cycle of poverty. Now, we are strengthening our local presence, partnerships and engagement. A branded bus would super charge this effort and take our outward looking identity onto the roads every day, raising awareness, sparking conversations and inviting people across the county to be part of the change. It would reflect the very best of Oxford: a city proud of its global influence and committed to using it for good.

At a time of unprecedented global challenges — from forced displacement to climate driven food insecurity — demand for our work is rising, while government funding is falling. Without wider public support, vital programmes risk being scaled back: from teaching business skills to refugees in Uganda, to helping farmers in Malawi adapt to climate change.

Branding a bus would help to showcase our work and anchor Opportunity more deeply in the city we are proud to call home. It would send a clear, visible message every day: this is Oxford — a city that celebrates diversity, looks outward, steps up, and believes in opportunity for all.

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Helen & Douglas House

Submitted by: Daniel Gill

About Helen & Douglas House: Helping terminally ill children live life to the full.

Website: www.helenanddouglas.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Greater visibility and awareness of a world renowned community and charity.

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Didcot Baby Monday

Submitted by: Clare Towlerton

About Didcot Baby Monday: Providing support to new parents in Oxfordshire.

Website: www.didcotbabymonday.co.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? This prize would allow for the group to continue to provide this essential support to new families in Oxfordshire.

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Action Against Abduction

Submitted by: Ben Glazier

About Action Against Abduction: The charity has created the replacement for Stranger Danger. The teaching materials are given completely free to all primary schools and police forces. They are free for parents, teachers and police to download.

Website: www.actionagainstabduction.org

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Local awareness in Oxford and surrounding villages. Awareness of the organisation, an important cause (child safety) and awareness of the Clever Never Goes tools. https://clevernevergoes.org/

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Wallingford Baptist Church

Submitted by: Victoria Griffin

About Wallingford Baptist Church: It isn’t just a Church. It has a Living Room for people to go in on a Monday 9.30am to 4.00pm where people can have hot drinks, lunch, and lots of activities or just want to make new friends or just chat.

Website: www.wallingfordbaptist.co.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? It would let people know they don’t have to be alone.

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The Porch

Submitted by: Alice Madden-Waite

About The Porch: The Porch is the frontline provider of homeless day services in Oxford. We are the only service in the city offering direct access, day-long support for people sleeping rough and those experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, providing a place of sanctuary where lives can be rebuilt and dignity restored.

Last year alone, we supported 637 people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, provided nearly 20,000 meals, and delivered individually tailored support services. Our holistic approach addresses both immediate needs and long-term goals, offering help with housing, finances, physical and mental health, addiction recovery, and skills for employment.

The impact of this support can be seen in stories like Emma’s (name changed):

Emma came to The Porch after fleeing domestic abuse and finding herself homeless. She was experiencing anxiety and poor physical health, and although determined to work, she often found herself having to leave jobs. Emma joined our Moving Forwards Programme and began helping to run The Porch Community Café. Reassured that it was okay to step back when needed, she gradually grew in confidence and self-esteem. Within just three months, Emma had moved into full-time employment at a local café.

With your help, we can continue to transform lives like Emma’s and provide hope, stability, and opportunity to those who need it most.

Website: www.theporch.org.uk/about-the-porch/

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Receiving the £100,000 marketing package would be truly transformational for The Porch. As a very small team with limited time and marketing resources, we work hard to support the 50–70 people who come through our doors each day, but our capacity to promote our services and share our mission is limited. This support would enable us to significantly raise awareness of the vital work The Porch does, reach new supporters, and build stronger connections within the wider community. It would help more people understand the difference their support can make, while increasing opportunities for fundraising, partnerships, and long-term sustainability. For a small independent charity like ours, access to professional marketing support on this scale would create life-changing opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.

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MS Society

Submitted by: Michael Jordan

About MS Society: Support and fund research into multipleschlereosis.

Website: www.mssociety.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Amazing advertising to bring the charity more into public vision.

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SUDEP Action

Submitted by: Rob Harris 

About SUDEP Action: SUDEP Action is the only UK charity supporting those whose loved ones have died suddenly from an epilepsy-related death. Bereavement support is a key part of our work.
SUDEP stands for Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. At least 21 people in the UK die from epilepsy each week and it's estimated 80% of these deaths are preventable. Many of these deaths are in young people, who are otherwise healthy, apart from having epilepsy.
We have also created a tool called the SUDEP & Seizure Safety Checklist which empowers clinicians to have better risk discussions with patients, and our EpSMon app enables people with epilepsy to monitor their own seizure risks. Our Epilepsy Deaths Register, an important platform for researchers, is the largest database into epilepsy deaths in the world.
SUDEP Action is striving for a world where no one dies from epilepsy.

Website: www.sudep.org

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Seeing the name SUDEP Action on buses across the county would save lives. Why? Because it would make people think, 'what's SUDEP?' And it would spark important conversations to help people better understand the often unspoken risks that come with epilepsy.
SUDEP is the leading cause of death for people with epilepsy. The causes of SUDEP are not well understood, but modifiable risk factors are known, and there are steps that patients can actively take to reduce risk.
SUDEP Action has designed tools proven to reduce risk. And we’ve built a community that fights for change. This community is led by ordinary people with lived experience of unexpected and tragic loss.
We campaign relentlessly for change – and we would love to see these campaigns taken around the county on buses. Reaching people that we might not otherwise be reached. Potentially saving a loved one’s life. Or your own.
SUDEP is catastrophic. We built a community of support and advocacy when there was nothing else anywhere in the world. Today, families can access support and expert help and are supported to get answers and learnings from deaths.
For 30 years, we’ve been breaking down barriers and changing scientific thinking – so science never again becomes divorced from the painful exclusions and the realities of our community and movement. SUDEP secrecy, or ignorance, has undermined choice and worsened the anguish and distress families have faced. That has to change.
Still, in 2026, too many grieving families tell us they didn’t know you could die from epilepsy.
And too many clinicians say they didn’t mention the risk because they didn’t want to alarm patients unnecessarily.
It's a myth that epilepsy deaths are tragic but unavoidable.
Through greater awareness, we can dispel that myth. One conversation at a time. One bus ride at a time.

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Getting Court

Submitted by: Laura Burke

About Getting Court: Getting Court run a diversionary project that provides meaningful citizenship education about the justice system through direct experience of court and prison that helps to motivate lasting behaviour change in vulnerable young people with the aim of reducing their risk of involvement in criminal activity.

Website: www.gettingcourt.com

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? This would be a great opportunity for Getting Court to engage with young people about our project, asking for their input in the design and the message the bus advert should convey. It is important that it comes from young people to have the maximum impact and successfully resonate with the young people we want to reach.

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Parkinson's UK

Submitted by: Sarah Jones

About Parkinson's UK: Parkinson’s is on the rise, affecting people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Parkinson’s UK supports over 1 million people impacted by Parkinson’s, including families, friends, and carers. Our mission is:
Pushing for excellent health and care: Work directly with the NHS to improve services across the UK, campaigning for and funding more Parkinson’s nurses and specialist healthcare professionals, to give the best care possible.
Building a community of support: From diagnosis, we’ll make sure people can access what they need to stay active, healthy and socially connected.
Getting new treatments, faster: We fund groundbreaking and innovative research.
Someone is told every 20 minutes they have Parkinson’s, and as Parkinson’s continues to grow, we can not wait for change. We make it happen.

Website: www.parkinsons.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Parkinson's is on the rise. By 2030, we expect the number of people with Parkinson’s in the UK to reach 173,000. In 2025, around 28,000 people were told they have Parkinson’s, and Parkinson’s UK is here for every journey.
‘Brand the Bus’ would be a transformative opportunity to drive awareness and connection for people with Parkinson’s across Oxford. With over 1,800 people in Oxfordshire living with Parkinson’s, that’s the equivalent of more than 24 double-decker buses, this campaign would help ensure that no one affected has to face Parkinson’s alone.
It would allow us to sustain the work already supporting our local community. Our four specialist Parkinson’s nurses provide expert, tailored care, supporting medication management, coordinating with physiotherapists and speech and language therapists, and training wider health professionals to better understand the condition. Alongside them, our two local advisers guide individuals and families through every stage of their journey, from diagnosis to daily symptom management, offering practical advice, emotional support, and help accessing financial and employment assistance.
Beyond clinical support, our nine local groups and eight Parkinson’s cafés create welcoming spaces where people can connect, share experiences, and build friendships. By branding a bus, we can sustain these services and expand to the wider community, reaching people who may not yet know where to turn, breaking stigma, and getting support to people who need it most sooner.
We are a powerful community; we don’t wait for change, we make it happen. Campaigning for better health and care. Funding research into groundbreaking new treatments. Running life-changing support services.

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The Wandering Minds Collective

Submitted by: Darren Cammock

About The Wandering Minds Collective: A newly created Oxfordshire Charitable Association based around a peer support group for people with ADHD or suspected ADHD. Created due to a severe lack of services within Oxfordshire, the group's role is for supporting, guiding and educating people on living with this neurodevelopmental disorder. In-person meetings are held monthly for the Adult Journey as well as for Parent/Carer Journey and aims to grow in order to reach all areas of Oxfordshire and create a truly unique and beneficial support network not only for those with ADHD but those family members and loved ones who are supporting or caring for someone with ADHD.

Website: www.thewanderingmindscollective.my.canva.site

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? This would be an incredible way to increase awareness of this neurodevelopmental disorder. With so much stigma around ADHD at this present time, there are a large number of people who are afraid to go to the GP, friends or family to ask about getting advice. Having the information on a bus that travels through various areas of Oxfordshire will allow those people to gain information via the website address, printed description of the charity or QR code (if you would print these) without the fear of judgement by others.
Spreading awareness also helps build the knowledge that the charity is here and that those on an ADHD journey can be a part of something special as well as help it grow with regards to in-person meetings in other areas of the county to enable so many other people who are facing incredible challenges to attend, be heard, feel safe, feel like they are not being judged and understand that they are not alone.
The charity also has a private social media group which allows for daily conversations and support with others as well as being able to speak more regularly with others going through similar situations. They share the low's as well as the high's, as understanding and acknowledging the wins as well (no matter how small they can be) can be crucial for mental health and also for understanding the outcomes from the various types of support.

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Edge Housing

Submitted by: Hayley Jackson

About Edge Housing: We provide accommodation and support to over 50 residents at any one time including male only, female only and recovery specific homes and rooms for those with no access to benefits.

We support our residents through one to one work, group activities, house meetings and signposting with the aim to build self esteem, resilience and support networks which in turn leads to recovery, employment and moving onto independent accommodation.

We continue to support our residents after they leave for as long as they want.

Website: www.edgehousing.org

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Imagine seeing a bus travel through our communities every single day, proudly carrying the name Edge Housing.

Branding a bus in our name wouldn’t just be about visibility — it would be a powerful statement of who we are and what we stand for.

For the individuals and families we support, it would represent hope, safety, and a reminder that they are not alone. For the wider community, it would shine a light on the realities of homelessness and the work being done to change lives for the better.

A branded bus would:

• Raise awareness of the challenges people face every day

• Help break down stigma around homelessness

• Show that Edge Housing is present, active, and making a difference

• Open doors to new partnerships, support, and opportunities

Most importantly, it would give a voice to those who often go unseen — turning everyday journeys into a moving message of compassion, support, and change.

This isn’t just branding. It’s visibility with purpose. It’s advocacy on wheels. It’s a reminder that everyone deserves a place to call home.

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FarmAbility

Submitted by: Max Ruscoe Higgs

About FarmAbility: I used to work for Farmability. An amazing crew of warm hearted staff and volunteers who work with people of all ages locally who are either disabled or on the autism spectrum. Helping build community and give people hands of skills they can take with them into the future. I can't thank Farmability enough for taking me on and inviting me to be part of the crew. I love the crew a lot and believe with my whole heart they should be the local charity you should pick.

Website: www.farmability.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? It would mean a lot. To get the coverage they want informing locals of what the charity does. It would also shine a little on those living on the fringes here in Oxford. I would mean the world.

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Oxford Head Injury Services

Submitted by: Matilda Badham

About Oxford Head Injury Services: Oxford Head Injury Services supports adults living with acquired brain injury and their carers across Oxfordshire. The charity’s purpose is to make lasting improvements in recovery and wellbeing, enabling individuals to rebuild skills, confidence and independence through specialist rehabilitation therapies, information, advocacy, personalised support and social connection.

Its Activity & Rehabilitation Centre is a safe and welcoming space where people can share experiences and take part in activities tailored to their interests and recovery needs, also providing respite for carers. The charity supports people at the point of hospital discharge, and provides practical support in people’s homes and communities, helping with everyday tasks and building confidence, including for those in more remote areas or facing mobility challenges.

Brain injury can change lives in an instant, but Oxford Head Injury Services is there to restore hope, connections, and empower people to rebuild their lives in ways that feel right for them.

Website: www.oxfordheadinjuryservices.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding a bus would provide Oxford Head Injury Services with a powerful platform to raise awareness of acquired brain injury and directly help more people access the support they need.

Every day, people across Oxfordshire are living with the effects of brain injury caused by trauma, tumour, stroke, haemorrhage or illness. Its impact is often sudden and complex, affecting memory, communication, processing, mobility, fatigue and emotional wellbeing, and can fundamentally change how a person thinks, feels and lives day to day. Many people lose independence, are unable to return to work or maintain social connections, while carers take on new and unexpected responsibilities, affecting families, workplaces and communities.

Across the UK, someone is admitted to hospital with a brain injury every 90 seconds. In Oxfordshire, over 4,000 people are admitted each year.

Recovery does not end at hospital discharge, yet many people feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn. With the right support, people are more likely to regain independence, reduce reliance on services and reconnect with their communities.

Many people are unaware of the long-term impact of brain injury or that specialist community rehabilitation exists beyond hospital discharge. A branded bus would help us reach a wide and diverse audience, including people who may need support, as well as carers, healthcare professionals and potential supporters. It would also help reduce stigma by making brain injury more visible and better understood within the community.

For Oxford Head Injury Services, this represents an opportunity to strengthen local connections, increase referrals and ensure more people can access the support they need, when they need it. Ultimately, it would help us reach more people, earlier, and support them to rebuild their lives.

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The Hummingbird Centre

About The Hummingbird Centre: The Hummingbird Cancer Support & Therapy Centre exists for people living with cancer: those with cancer themselves and everyone connected to them. We walk alongside individuals on their cancer journey from diagnosis, treatment, remission and cure; or recurrence and “End of Life” palliative support.

Website: www.thehummingbirdcentre.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding a bus would enable us to spread the word about our services to areas that we may not be able to reach as you can not always depend on people using social media. Albeit we have good engagement we are aware not everyone knows about us. We would not like anyone on their journey to be alone, by having hopefully this opportunity it would enable us to reach out even further in many different areas of that we are sure. As well as peak peoples interest to find out what The Hummingbird logo is all about even if they are not affected by cancer they may be interested in supporting our cause with funding/events or sponsorship as cancer affects us all one way or another.

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Cherwell Collective

Submitted by: Hailey Larson

About Cherwell Collective: Cherwell Collective creates change through community connection. At the heart of our work are four pillars:
- Reduce waste
- Connect people and nature
- Empower communities
- Share provisions, tools and skills

We bring together local people and resources to create happy, healthy, thriving communities. We’re a community for everyone with something for everyone; meet new people, save money, learn new skills, enjoy seasonal delicious food, and reduce your carbon footprint through our activities.

Access fresh, healthy affordable food
- We provide access to free and low-cost fresh food and offer food-growing and climatarian cooking education. Everything we offer is surplus to reduce food waste, even the food at our community café.

Repair and repurpose your household items
- Repurpose, reuse and repair common household items through our tutorials and workshops.

Improve your wellbeing
- Getting involved with the community can significantly help your physical and mental health.

Website: www.cherwellcollective.com

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Cherwell Collective works hard to help and support those in the community. Through reducing barriers, providing resources and educating people we are able to make a big difference. We currently service on average 2000 people in our community each month through our Cherwell Larder project alone.

Our aim is to create a truly circular economy, helping tackle climate change and helping people make informed decisions on their choices. Our work has proven that connecting people to each other and to nature reduces overall consumption and waste.

Our Community hub in Kidlington not only provides a safe space for people, but also a space to drop in and enjoy food cooked from surplus in our Climatarian Kitchen. We are working hard with key stakeholders within Oxfordshire to help shape policy and make Oxford a leader in waste reform.

Branding a bus would not only spread awareness of our sustainability activities and strengthen the movement. It would also connect people to each other and reduce loneliness in our community. Its a win-win for everyone involved no matter what their motivation for joining our activities.

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Cure DHDDS

Submitted by: Sophia Abusamra

About Cure DHDDS: Cure DHDDS is a charity founded by parents of children diagnosed with mutations in the DHDDS gene — an ultra-rare, incurable neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorder with only around 70–80 known cases worldwide. They are not scientists or doctors, but families trying to find the best way to help their children.
Their mission is to support affected families, drive research into these little-known mutations, and find treatments so that those living with DHDDS variants can lead the best life possible. Their vision is a world where there is a cure.
Cure DHDDS has strong Oxfordshire roots. Two of the charity's scientific advisors, Professor Frances Platt and Professor Jenny Taylor, are based at the University of Oxford. Locally, another Oxford scientist, Professor James Edwards (known as @ploddingprofessor), is training for the London Marathon to raise funds and awareness for the charity.

Website: www.curedhdds.org

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? When your child is diagnosed with a condition so rare that most doctors have never heard of it, the isolation is immense. There are no leaflets in the GP's waiting room, no celebrity ambassadors, no public understanding. With only 70–80 known cases worldwide, DHDDS mutations exist in almost total obscurity. That is precisely why branding an Oxford bus would be transformative for Cure DHDDS.
I cannot think of a more powerful way to raise awareness of an ultra-rare disease than displaying it on a double-decker bus seen by tens of thousands of people every day across Oxford. For conditions like DHDDS, visibility is not a luxury, it is a lifeline. Every undiagnosed child, every family searching for answers, every researcher who has never encountered the gene - awareness is the first step toward all of them. A branded bus could lead to earlier diagnoses, new research connections, and families realising they are not alone.
Oxford is uniquely placed to amplify this message. The charity already has deep ties to the city: Professor Frances Platt and Professor Jenny Taylor, both at the University of Oxford, serve as scientific advisors to Cure DHDDS. A University of Oxford professor, Professor James Edwards (@ploddingprofessor on Instagram), is currently training for the 2026 London Marathon to raise money for the charity, bringing the cause directly into the local community.
Cure DHDDS is run entirely by volunteers: parents and families with no marketing budget and no paid staff. A £100,000 advertising package is something this charity could never afford, yet it is exactly what an ultra-rare disease needs most: to simply be seen. Branding a bus would turn Oxford's streets into a daily reminder that rare does not mean unworthy of attention, and that even the smallest causes deserve the biggest platforms.

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Transforming Autism

Submitted by: Mike Coffey

About Transforming Autism: The aim of Transforming Autism is to provide early autism support that transforms autistic children’s potential and equips their parents and caregivers to build loving, supportive relationships with them. At the moment our activities include:
Directly supporting young autistic children aged 0 to 4 and their parents in family homes, at an age when intervention can significantly impact development; supporting parents by providing effective support to their autistic children aged 5-12 through therapist-led Online Confident Parenting groups and supporting autistic children’s transition from nursery to school.
Our long term aim is to offer First Steps nationwide alongside our online “Confident Parenting” programmes, already accessible from across the UK.
We believe our specialist work is unique as it sets early intervention at the heart.

Website: www.transformingautism.org

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Early Intervention. Lifelong Difference
Branding a bus gives us a powerful way to reach thousands of very young autistic children and their families—right when they need support most.

The Need
Across Oxford and surrounding areas, thousands of young autistic children are waiting. Waiting for support. Waiting through critical early years that shape development, communication, social skills, and sensory processing. Without timely help, these delays can lead to trauma, exclusion, and isolation.

Autistic children are significantly more likely to be misunderstood, bullied, or excluded from school. Later in life, only 32% of autistic adults are in paid employment. These outcomes are not inevitable—but early intervention is essential to change them.

Our Solution
At Transforming Autism, we provide free, specialist early years support at the stage it can make the greatest difference. We work not only with children, but with families—placing parents at the heart of everything we do. Through our programmes, they gain the skills, confidence, and knowledge to become their child’s strongest advocate and expert.

Why a Bus Campaign Matters
A branded bus allows us to meet families where they are—in their communities, on their daily journeys, at the moment they realise they need help. It turns awareness into action.

We would use the bus to:
• Promote our core programmes: First Steps, Confident Autism Parenting, and Play:cademy
• Provide clear, accessible contact details for immediate support
• Run targeted campaigns (e.g. supporting autistic girls, reaching underserved families)

Why It Matters
We are a volunteer-led charity. Every new pathway for families to find us can change a child’s future. A single call sparked by a passing bus could be the start of lifelong transformation.

Because early support doesn’t just change childhood—it changes everything.

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The Gatehouse

Submitted by: David Kay

About The Gatehouse: Homelessness is a huge problem throughout the UK. What surprises many people is that a prosperous City like Oxford has well above average numbers of rough sleepers, and that number continues to grow larger.

The Gatehouse is unique within Oxford as it works across the whole homeless and vulnerably-housed community, doesn’t require proof of a local connection, and offers all services free of charge on a completely non-judgemental, open basis, providing an essential safety net for all adults in need.

Our daily drop-in sessions provide support to meet basic needs including food, clothes, sleeping bags, and showers. We also run activity groups, workshops and a Lived Experience Advisory Forum, helping guests to build up their skills and confidence. Last but not least we have Casework and Counselling Teams providing bespoke advice and support to individual guests, with the aim of guiding them towards re-integration with society, and permanent housing.

Website: www.oxfordgatehouse.org

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Imagine you’ve suddenly found yourself homeless, and sleeping rough on the streets of Oxford. You’re cold, hungry, and you don’t know where to go, or who to ask for help. Huddling in your sleeping bag you look up as a bus glides by, and there you see something that triggers a sense of hope. An advert for the Gatehouse promising ‘Sanctuary now, support for the future’. No catch, just turn up and you find food and drink, a welcoming and safe environment, and friendly people happy to listen, and to provide support.

Our guests are amongst the most disadvantaged members of society, with a wide range of backgrounds including refugees, ex-military, ex-prisoners, and people with health issues, disabilities, or simply trying to recover from loss of a job or the break-up of a relationship. All of them need our help, and branding a bus would massively increase our visibility, ensuring that more individuals find their way to our door.

Running all of those free services is expensive (around £500,000 p.a.), and Government funding is minimal. The vast majority of our funds comes from a combination of grants and donations from local individuals, businesses and community organisations such as faith groups, schools and colleges. We want to spend our funds on our services, and unlike national charities we can’t afford major advertising campaigns, so this chance to partner with Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel, Get Radio, and Oxford City Football Club is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to highlight our good works to thousands of people, and through that to attract significant levels of funding.

The Gatehouse is a local charity dealing with the harsh reality of life on the streets in today’s Oxford. What more appropriate choice could there be as winner of this competition?

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Kinship Carers UK

Submitted by: Lucy Hancock

About Kinship Carers UK: Kinship carers uk supports grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and most of all children, that through no fault of their own cannot live with their parents. These kinship carers are often thrown in at the deep end, often having to take time off work and even give up work, make huge life changes and even move home, jump through hoops and even fight for their own grandchildren, with little help or advice from local authorities. Kinship carers uk offers that advice and support, be it a support group, a chat, signposting, they are always there to listen and offer that listening ear, with a wealth of knowledge helping children stay with relatives, keeping families together.

Website: www.kinshipcarersuk.com

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Getting them out there to a wider community, showing the kinship community there is some help and support, there are people that care and will help you on this terrifying journey, making it less terrifying. Signposting the public to resources for people they know that are going on this journey.

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The Mulberry Bush Organisation

Submitted by: Tania Kirby

About The Mulberry Bush Organisation: For over 75 years we have been providing specialist therapeutic support and education in our residential primary school in Standlake near Witney. More recently, rapid growth has come from taking our expertise out into educational, care, health and justice settings, providing practical support and training, along with thought leadership and research to professionalise and influence those who are able to make a difference. We currently support staff in 10 school across Oxfordshire, aiming to minimise exclusion form school and introducing methods such as nurture room environments, and training in Therapeutic Care and education. By empowering others to use our approach, we can reach many more people nationally and internationally.

Website: www.mulberrybush.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Branding a bus would give us something we rarely have access to at scale – consistent, visible presence in the communities we serve.

The Mulberry Bush has over 75 years of impact, but much of our work happens behind the scenes, supporting children, families and professionals in ways that aren’t always visible to the public. A branded bus would change that. It would act as a moving ambassador for our work, raising awareness of the importance of therapeutic care and education, and helping people better understand the experiences that sit behind children’s behaviour and exclusion.

As the bus travels across Oxfordshire and beyond, it would reach thousands of people who may not otherwise come across us. This includes educators, carers, and decision-makers who are in a position to influence change, as well as local communities who may benefit from a greater understanding of children’s needs.

It would also help us start conversations. A strong, visible presence creates curiosity and opens the door to engagement, whether that’s someone visiting our website, attending an event, or reaching out for support or training.

Crucially, increased awareness directly supports our sustainability. It enables us to build new partnerships, attract funding, and connect with individuals and organisations who want to be part of meaningful, long-term change.

For us, branding a bus isn’t just about visibility. It’s about extending our reach, amplifying our voice, and ensuring that more children and young people receive the understanding and support they need to thrive.

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Wild Oxfordshire

Submitted by: Ebony Holland

About Wild Oxfordshire: Wild Oxfordshire works across the County to create a more natural, resilient, and biodiverse Oxfordshire for the benefit of all!

We help catalyse change by identifying conservation needs and supporting nature recovery action across the County. We collaborate with numerous individuals, communities and organisations; offering expertly curated and inspiring information, bespoke advice, and nature-based solutions.

Website: www.wildoxfordshire.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? It would be an incredible opportunity to spread the message about the importance of nature for all of us in Oxfordshire (a great fit for the zero emissions bus!), to enhance the visibility of our growing charity across the County, and to test the use of transport advertisement as a communications tool.

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Earth Trust

Submitted by: Caitlin Moore

About Earth Trust: Founded by Sir Martin Wood (an Oxfordshire great) and his wife Lady Audrey, and still closely connected to the family, Earth Trust is a place-based environmental charity, looking after some of the most cherished green spaces in Oxfordshire. This includes the Wittenham Clumps, the largest freely accessible natural green space in Oxfordshire, and seven community reserves. Community focus is at the heart of Earth Trust, because nature and people thriving together offers the best long-term solution to climate change, to biodiversity loss and to the ongoing health and wellbeing crisis. Alongside caring for nature and wildlife, Earth Trust also creates opportunities for more people to connect with and care for the natural environment, through outdoor learning, volunteering, and public engagement.

Website: www.earthtrust.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? Currently Earth Trust reaches ~5,000 schoolchildren and ~6,500 individuals each year through education and public programming. The green spaces they care for receive ~200,000 visits each year, and they are undertaking a huge project at the moment that will increase that reach by a predicted 100,000. They are supported by almost 300 dedicated local individuals who volunteered over 20,000 hours of their time in the last year to make Earth Trust's work possible, and in return gain community and activity.
Despite being active in Oxfordshire, and having been present at the iconic Wittenham Clumps for many years, they are still relatively unknown in the county. Branding a bus would let people know all about this remarkable charity and how they can get out and involved with nature at a critical time, both for environmental conservation and for the charity's ambitious growth plans.
This is a truly local charity, caring the local environment, and improving access to nature and nature-based education for local people. Branding a bus also aligns environmentally, as we are encouraged to use public transport over individual vehicles to reduce carbon emissions, and as Oxford Bus Company invests in electric buses.
Being a local charity, winning Brand the Bus would bring incredibly valuable publicity to Earth Trust, and help them to reach more people who would benefit from their services, and those who might wish to support their work. The more people engage with nature, the more likely they are to care for and protect it, and the reach of Brand the Bus could inspire and empower many more people to care for nature.

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Nai's House

Submitted by: Alexandra Liste

About Nai's House: Nai’s House is a youth mental health and suicide prevention charity supporting people across Bicester and Oxfordshire. It provides life-saving support for young people aged 5 to 30, with a focus on suicidal thoughts and self-harming behaviours. In the past year alone, its interventions have knowingly saved 11 lives.
The charity currently supports 106 guests with 1:1 regular sessions, while also managing a waiting list of 390 through regular check-ins and flexible appointments. Support is available Monday to Saturday, including crisis intervention and out-of-hours care.
Founded from personal experience, Nai’s House is powered by a dedicated team of 17 staff and volunteers. Its person-centred approach helps each guest better understand their thoughts and feelings while building practical skills to cope with difficult times.
Alongside 1:1 support, Nai’s House offers parent and caregiver groups, autism groups, craft sessions, music workshops, themed eight-week programmes, and globally recognised suicide prevention and intervention training.

Website: www.naishouse.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? The greater visibility would benefit Nai’s House through brand awareness, but beyond that the value of this opportunity is that it would help raise the profile of suicide prevention across Oxfordshire at a time when earlier intervention, community awareness and routes to support are urgently needed. Nai’s House is Oxfordshire’s only youth suicide prevention charity.
What makes Nai’s House stand out is that its work is not limited to direct support alone. The organisation is helping to shift the wider conversation around suicide prevention, making clear that this is not only an issue for charities, schools or healthcare services to address after a crisis. Communities, employers, families and individuals all have a role in recognising risk and responding earlier.
This matters because Nai’s House sees first-hand the pressures facing those in need of support, including the reality that many people are left waiting for help. Greater public visibility would not solve that challenge on its own, but it would help bring suicide prevention into everyday public awareness and encourage more people to recognise the signs and feel more confident having difficult conversations. Crucially, Nai’s House also offers training that equips people and organisations to do exactly that, helping them spot warning signs, respond safely in moments of crisis and support people who are struggling.
It would also create a stronger platform for engaging businesses and organisations. Nai’s House is well placed to use this opportunity to encourage workplace awareness, training and policies that help protect staff wellbeing and reduce stigma around asking for help.
This would not be a branding exercise. It would be a powerful way to move suicide prevention into public consciousness and reinforce the message that suicide is preventable, that earlier action matters, and that everyone has a role to play in keeping people safe.

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RSPCA Oxfordshire and Reading

Submitted by: Holly Ashton

About RSPCA Oxfordshire and Reading: RSPCA Oxfordshire and Reading is a self-funded branch. We’re dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals. All the money raised is used locally to provide support to animals in need. The national headquarters campaigns are for stronger animal welfare laws and our focus, the local branches, remains on improving the lives of animals in our counties.

Website: www.rspcaoxfordshire.org.uk

What would branding a bus mean to your organisation? We’ve had very exciting news in the past month as we’ve merged with the Reading branch so we are now RSPCA Oxfordshire and Reading. We’d love the opportunity to promote our newly expanded branch! With the recent merger, we’re covering a lot of new areas so we'll see an uptake in the amount of animals coming into our care, so being able to spread awareness on this would be transformative for the charity.

As a small, local charity run by two paid staff and 13 trustees, this growth brings huge opportunity for us. Raising awareness across our new areas is vital so that more people know who we are, how to find us, and how they can support us. A bus advertising campaign would be truly transformative for our branch. It would help us reach thousands of people in the communities we now serve, ensuring that local supporters know to donate directly to us, rather than to the national organisation. At our core, we’re all about community. This campaign would give us the visibility we need to continue rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals across Oxfordshire and Reading.

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