Olivia Churchill
Latest news and stories
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Oxford Bus Company champions community with chatty bus during mental health week
Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel relaunched their Chatty Bus initiative during Mental Health Awareness Week to tackle loneliness and isolation. Volunteers engaged passengers on the 5A service with friendly conversation between Oxford, Cowley Centre, and Littlemore.
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Oxfordshire sees surge in scouting with over 6% growth in youth membership
Scouting is thriving in Oxfordshire, with a 6.39% rise in youth participation from 2023 to 2025. The Scouts (ages 10–14) grew by 3.63%, while Explorers (ages 14–18) increased by 15.89%.
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Croudace Homes promotes site safety at Sires Hill Primary in Didcot
The initiative, part of the Willowbrook Park development, educated children on construction safety and supported the school with three new welly storage units to enhance outdoor learning.
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Young people praise Oxfordshire Youth Support in new peer review
Young people have praised Oxfordshire County Council’s targeted youth support service in a peer review led by the National Youth Agency. The service, launched in 2021, supports youth facing difficulties to prevent escalation to authorities.
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Oxford City Council approves New Blackbird Leys community centre plans
The purpose-built community centre will provide flexible, welcoming spaces for local residents and groups, with three large halls, a range of office spaces, and comfortable places for people to meet and relax.
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Oxford’s low-carbon housing project reaches highest point of construction
Oxford City Council’s housing company OX Place and Lucy Developments have reached the “topping out” milestone for Marston Paddock, a low-carbon housing project in Old Marston. Due for completion in Autumn 2025, the development will provide 40 affordable homes – 21 for social rent and 19 for shared ownership.
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Wildlife protections barely affect UK planning decisions according to The Wildlife Trusts
The Wildlife Trusts has published new research claiming that protected species are a factor in just 3% of planning appeal decisions, contradicting the UK Government’s claims that environmental regulations obstruct development.
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Taylor Wimpey supports Oxfordshire Young Farmers County Show in Blewbury
Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties sponsored the Oxfordshire Young Farmers County Show with a £500 donation. The show celebrated Oxfordshire’s agricultural heritage with livestock displays, competitions, and local products, attracting nearly 5,000 attendees.
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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.