Community & Charity
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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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Dorchester Living leads community cleaning to keep Heyford Park green and clean
Over 25 Dorchester Living team members recently took part in a community litter pick across Heyford Park, helping to clean green spaces, pathways, and shared area, reflecting the developer’s commitment to sustainability, wellbeing, and community stewardship.
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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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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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Award-winning KNEAD Bakery expands to Oxford High Street
KNEAD Bakery, known for its award-winning handmade pastries, is opening its fourth location this June in Oxford, taking over the former Hobbs store on the high street.
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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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Bicester Motion and Top Gear announce exciting new partnership
Bicester Motion, a 444-acre automotive destination in Oxfordshire, has partnered with Top Gear, the world’s largest motoring media brand. The collaboration launched at Bicester Motion’s Scramble event on 27 April, 2025, featuring a debut display from Top Gear.
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Hanning Homes acquires The Old Vicarage in strategic move into care sector
Christie & Co has completed the sale of The Old Vicarage care home in Moulsford, Oxfordshire, a 52-bedroom facility with extensive amenities and grounds. Previously owned by Friends of the Elderly, it was sold to Hanning Homes Ltd, marking the company’s entry into the care sector.
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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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Operation Varsity: Crossing Time exhibition to open at Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum
The Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock is launching Operation Varsity: Crossing Time, an exhibition developed in partnership with charity Outside In.
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ESP Solicitors expands legal team with three senior hires amid growth drive
ESP Solicitors has expanded its legal team with the appointment of three experienced solicitors, reinforcing its expertise in immigration and employment law.
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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.
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Former warden of Keble College to run 10k at 90 in support of SEND education
Sir Christopher Ball, former warden of Keble College and a knight for services to education, will celebrate his 90th birthday by running a 10K in Brathay, Cumbria, on 17 May. He’s raising funds for ten charities, including The Unicorn School, which supports children with special educational needs.
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Persimmon champions sustainability with donation to local Didcot group
Persimmon Homes Wessex has donated £1,000 to Sustainable Didcot, a local environmental group, through its Community Champions programme. The donation supports the group’s initiatives such as repair cafes, clothing exchanges, and community workshops.