Mental health charity One-Eighty celebrates major awareness boost as its work is showcased on a newly branded Oxford Bus Company vehicle, following its victory in the 2025 Brand the Bus competition.
The Oxfordshire-based organisation, which supports young people struggling with mental health challenges, neurodiversity, or SEND-related difficulties, was revealed as the winner after a record-breaking public vote.
More than 12,000 votes were cast in this year’s contest, marking the seventh edition of the initiative run by Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel.
As part of its prize, One-Eighty receives a £100,000 advertising package, including a full year-long bus wrap on one of Oxford Bus Company’s electric double-decker buses.
The charity will also benefit from free on-board advertising across both bus networks and a comprehensive radio campaign on Get Radio. Additionally, One-Eighty has been chosen as Oxford City Football Club’s charity of choice for the 2025/26 season.
Susie Besant, founder and CEO of One-Eighty, said the organisation was “excited and proud” to see its mission highlighted so publicly.
“It is so vital for us to highlight the immense needs young people in our county are facing and share that we exist as a passionate and professional organisation as part of the solution,” she said.
“We want to thank every single person who voted for One-Eighty and who has continued to follow our journey. We are looking forward to our huge orange bus being on Oxfordshire’s roads.”
Founded in 2011, the charity works across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, delivering one-to-one interventions, preventative projects, professional training, and supervision designed to help children re-engage with education.
Demand for support has grown significantly in recent years, with referrals tripling since 2019. The charity now delivers over 2,000 one-to-one sessions annually, achieving a reported 97 per cent success rate in helping young people meet their goals.
Oxford Bus Company Managing Director Luke Marion said unveiling the winning bus wrap was a highlight of the campaign.
“We received a record number of entries, therefore selecting a winner was more challenging than ever before,” he said. “One-Eighty presented a powerful submission, and the charity’s work to support children and address mental health challenges struck a chord with our team.”
Hamish Law, Commercial Director at Get Radio, said:
“A huge congratulations to a very worth winner in One-Eighty. The work that they do across Oxfordshire is vital, and we couldn’t be more pleased to support them with a year-long campaign on Get Radio, to give them an even bigger presence across the county.”
Chris Williams, Head of Partnerships at Oxford City FC, added:
“We’re so proud to have been invited onto the judging panel and to review all the wonderful applications.
“It was fantastic to see all the incredible work which One-Eighty does, and we’ve been working alongside them since, as they match up with many of our core values.”
