Olivia Churchill
Latest news and stories
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Found Festival partners with Music For All to champion music accessibility
Found Festival, the UK’s newest boutique festival of music, wellness, and cultural discovery, has announced its charity partnership with Music For All, a leading organisation dedicated to ensuring equal access to music-making across the UK.
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Wychwood School hosts international rugby stars to inspire the next generation
Women’s Rugby World Cup finalist Shaunagh Brown and England Rugby Sevens player Abbie Brown visited Oxford this week to inspire the next generation of players at a charity school tournament organised by Wychwood School.
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Ferry Leisure Centre opens new indoor cycling studio and upgrades squash courts
Ferry Leisure Centre has unveiled a series of upgrades, including a new indoor cycling studio and refurbished squash courts. The dedicated cycling space, converted from a former squash court, offers both instructor-led and virtual classes for all fitness levels.
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Oxfordshire launches annual programme to clean and empty all highway drainage gullies
Oxfordshire County Council has launched a £2.6m programme to clean and empty every highway drainage gully across the county by March 2026, and annually thereafter, to improve drainage, reduce potholes, and enhance road safety.
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Oxford-based Windle Trust International shortlisted for prestigious charity awards
The charity was shortlisted for the 2025 Charity Awards in the International Aid and Development category for its Accelerated Secondary Education Programme in South Sudan, which provides unqualified primary teachers with a two-year secondary education to improve both teaching quality and access to education.
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Taylor Wimpey team raises over £3k for Youth Adventure Trust
The team from Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties has raised money for the Youth Adventure Trust after taking part in the Taylor Wimpey Challenge which saw over 300 employees from 53 teams hike 10 to 50km across the Yorkshire Dales while completing team-building tasks.
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Thame resident celebrates 102nd birthday, shares secret to longevity
Guida Thomas, a resident of Cuttlebrook Hall care home in Thame, recently celebrated her 102nd birthday surrounded by family, friends, and fellow residents. The celebration included afternoon tea, live entertainment, and a visit from the Mayor of Thame.
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Ten Oxfordshire charities reach final stage of ‘Brand the Bus’ contest
The finalists for the Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel’s Brand the Bus competition have been announced, following a record 12,266 public votes. Ten Oxfordshire charities are now in the running to have their branding featured on a double-decker bus.
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Taylor Wimpey thanks nurses with sweet gesture on International Nurses’ Day
To mark International Nurses’ Day, Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties delivered over 1,200 Lindt chocolates to nurses and staff at key hospitals, including Southampton General and Queen Alexandra.
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Bowls’ Big Weekend returns with record-breaking 800+ clubs signed up
Bowls’ Big Weekend returns for its fifth year from 23–26 May, with over 800 clubs, including 11 in Oxfordshire, taking part. Organised by Bowls England and Aviva, the event offers free taster sessions to introduce all ages and abilities to the sport.
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BBOWT urges public to reconnect with nature in ’30 Days Wild’ challenge
The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) is inviting people of all ages to join 30 Days Wild, a nationwide challenge encouraging daily nature-based activities throughout June. From listening to birdsong to planting wildflowers, the campaign promotes wellbeing and environmental connection through simple, everyday acts.
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Swift Box project by Heyford Park builds community and biodiversity
Over fifty hand-painted swift boxes have been installed at Heyford Park, Oxfordshire, in a collaborative project by Dorchester Living, Heyford Park School, and artist Kerry Lemon. Timed with the swifts’ return from Africa, the initiative aims to support declining swift populations.
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Kingham Hill School announces strategic alliance with Dean Close Foundation
Kingham Hill School in Oxfordshire will join the Dean Close Foundation in July 2025, marking a significant step for independent education in the region.
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Wantage care home uses AI to detect pain and transform the wellbeing of residents
Elmbrook Court care home in Wantage is trialling AI technology to improve resident wellbeing. Using the PainChek system, care staff can detect and manage pain in residents who struggle to communicate by scanning facial expressions with a smartphone or tablet.
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Oxford Bus Company reports increased patronage after 3A timetable change
Oxford Bus Company has reported a 22% increase in passengers from Littlemore and Sandford following enhancements to its 3A service. Since February 2025, the route operates more frequently—every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 20–30 minutes on weekends—improving access to Oxford, Cowley, and Oxford Science Park.
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Common Futures: Oxford residents called to co-create the city’s next civic landmark
Makespace Oxfordshire has launched Common Futures, a free public events programme inviting Oxford residents to help shape the future of the civic space at 38–40 George Street. Running monthly through 2025, the programme focuses on three themes—Regenerative Futures, Stories of Place, and City Changemakers—based on previous community input.