Helen & Douglas House, the world’s first children’s hospice, has unveiled its branding on a newly wrapped Oxford Bus Company electric double-decker after being named the 2025 runner-up in the annual Brand the Bus competition.
The contest, now in its seventh year and run in partnership with Thames Travel, received a record number of entries and more than 12,000 public votes.
The specially branded bus features the hospice’s imagery and logo, forming part of an advertising package worth more than £20,000. The prize includes a rear bus advertisement, on-bus promotional space and additional advertising support from local radio station Get Radio.
David Whittingham, Chief Executive of Helen & Douglas House, said the campaign couldn’t have come at a better time.
“These adverts will help us raise awareness of our charity and our need for donations to help care for local terminally ill children,” he said.
“The timing is ideal as we have just launched our Christmas appeal to help us raise £66,000 to fund the total cost of care this Christmas, which is often our busiest period. We are likely to support at least 71 seriously unwell children over the festive season.”
Helen & Douglas House provides specialist, compassionate care for babies and children with life-limiting conditions, supporting families across Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties.
One of the children previously cared for by the hospice, Neve Tammam — who sadly died in April 2023 — appears on the bus as part of the design.
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said the standard of entries for Brand the Bus 2025 was exceptional. “There was a high volume of worthy causes to present powerful submissions, and we’re proud to support one as special as Helen & Douglas House,” he said.
Get Radio’s Commercial Director, Hamish Law, added: “As our local children’s hospice, we hope the support we can give them on-air will further position them as an incredibly worthy cause.”
Sobell House, which provides palliative and end-of-life care for adults in Oxfordshire, was awarded second runner-up and will receive an enhanced digital on-bus advertising package worth £5,000.
The overall competition winner was One-Eighty, a charity supporting young people by bridging the gap between mental health and education.
