Olivia Churchill
Latest news and stories
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Anneliese Dodds MP responds to Andrew Gant’s letter on Oxford congestion charge
Anneliese Dodds MP has responded to Andrew Gant’s open letter on Oxford’s congestion charge, criticising the scheme’s priorities and defending Labour councillors against claims they oppose safer pedestrian crossings. The row highlights growing divisions ahead of the £5 charge’s October rollout.
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Charity fun day at Westgate marks World Heart Day with family activities and fundraising
Oxford’s Westgate Shopping Centre will host a family fun day on 28 September 2025 for World Heart Day, raising funds for the British Heart Foundation with live music, CPR training, competitions, and prizes from local businesses.
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Cotswold Farm Park’s Pumpkin Patch promises spooky trails and seasonal treats this Autumn
Cotswold Farm Park’s Pumpkin Patch returns this October with pumpkin picking, spooky trails, animal encounters and family fun, alongside evening events featuring live music and local food.
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Oxfordshire roads among most dangerous in England for surface quality
Oxfordshire has been ranked among the worst areas in England for road surface quality, with 8% of its B and C roads in poor condition and a further 32% requiring potential maintenance, raising safety concerns for motorcyclists.
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Open Day success at Housing 21’s Fern Meadows Extra Care scheme in Faringdon
Housing 21 has opened its fifth Extra Care scheme in Oxfordshire. Fern Meadows in Faringdon offers stylish apartments, landscaped gardens and communal spaces for over-55s, designed to support independent living with access to care when needed.
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Golfers raise £4,000 for Lighthouse charity at Oxford Golf Club
Oxford Golf Club hosted a charity golf day in support of Lighthouse, raising £4,000 for construction workers and their families. More than 70 golfers took part in the event, which featured competitions, prizes, and community support.
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Charity for Civil Servants sponsors Pearn Kandola’s Psychological Safety Week 2025
The Charity for Civil Servants is sponsoring Psychological Safety Week 2025, a global initiative from Pearn Kandola. The charity will also host a free Mental Health and Wellbeing Conference in October to build on the campaign’s themes of resilience and trust.
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Oxfordshire residents urged to rescue recyclables for Recycle Week 2025
Oxfordshire residents are being urged to ‘rescue’ overlooked items such as aerosols, toothpaste tubes and shampoo bottles from rubbish bins during Recycle Week 2025, helping the county build on its record recycling success and tackle the climate emergency.
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Thames Travel launches new bus service between Goring and Wallingford
Thames Travel has launched its new 134 bus service between Goring and Wallingford, maintaining vital public transport links in South Oxfordshire. The hourly weekday route offers larger buses, increasing capacity while preserving connections to key villages and services.
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Leys Pools & Leisure Centre hosts free Splash and Play Weekend for families
Leys Pools & Leisure Centre is launching its first Splash and Play Weekend on 20 to 21 September, with free swimming, soft play, and family activities. The event is open to all, offering a chance to explore the centre’s facilities at no cost.
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Self-belief charity delivers mental health boost for Oxford and Banbury college students
I Can & I Am is hosting workshops on double-decker buses to boost the confidence and resilience of 240 Oxford and Banbury students. The sessions will support GCSE retake learners and High Needs students as part of Activate Learning’s MindGreen initiative.
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Prue Leith cuts ribbon at launch of Yellow Submarine’s life-changing bakery
Yellow Submarine has opened a new bakery in Witney to support adults with learning disabilities and autism. The launch, attended by Bake Off’s Prue Leith, will provide trainees with vital skills while expanding the charity’s award-winning range of bakes.
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Thames Travel introduces major improvements to X32 service between Didcot and JR Hospital
Thames Travel has boosted its X32 service between Didcot and the John Radcliffe Hospital, with buses now running every 20 minutes on weekdays. The move, supported by Milton Park and Oxfordshire County Council, aims to help commuters and NHS staff.
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Half term and Halloween adventures at National Trust in Bucks, Berks and Oxfordshire
This October half term, National Trust places across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire are bringing autumn to life with Halloween adventures for all ages.
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Oxford hospitals raise concerns over congestion charge impact
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has warned that the city’s congestion charge could place extra pressure on staff and patients. The trust has urged for support measures, while the county council insists hospitals will remain accessible without paying the fee.
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Merck’s Curiosity Cube brings hands-on AI science to Greyfriars Oxford Catholic School
Oxford pupils will explore AI when Merck’s Curiosity Cube visits Greyfriars Catholic School this September. The interactive mobile lab offers hands-on experiments to spark curiosity in STEM and encourage the next generation of scientists.