THE Oxfordshire Playbus is expected to go into liquidation after 35 years.

The charity has toured county schools, children’s centres and made home visits in rural and deprived areas since 1979, helping more than 10,000 people each year.

But on Friday, chairman of trustees Jon O’Neill told the charity’s employees – believed to number eight – it was closing down the bus service.

In an email seen by the Oxford Mail he said: “It is with regret to announce the trustees have been advised to close down Oxfordshire Playbus because of the financial situation which has been beyond our control. This has been an extremely hard time for everyone involved and on behalf of the trustee board we wish to thank you all for your loyal and conscientious service to the organisation.”

He said they had instructed London chartered accountants Harris Lipman to assist in putting the Upper Heyford-based company into liquidation.

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Oxford Mail:

Manager Martin Gillett

Manager Martin Gillett described it as a “sad day”.

The famous blue bus aimed to give children and families a safe place to play and build self-esteem, confidence and creativity.

It also offered parents and carers some respite and a chance to socialise.

Yesterday morning at the Heyford Park Community Centre, staff said they were given forms to claim redundancy payments. 

Oxford Mail:

Jaime Purchase-Rathbone and Aiden Purchase-Rathbone, with play worker Brett Purchase-Rathbone on the bus in 2012

Ann Janes, a play worker for eight years at the charity, said: “We’ve been running these sessions for years. I’ve known some children since they were born. 

“A lot of them live in isolated communities, maybe stuck in a village and they can’t get to the nearest children’s centre. 

“Some children talk about it all week. People are very sad and they’re going to miss it.” 

The charity also ran a youth bus on weekday evenings for teenagers in Bicester, funded by Bicester Village. 

Until recently it ran a “sensory bus” for people with disabilities including dementia. 

All three buses have been staples at Oxfordshire Play Association play days across the county for years and manager Martin Gillett said it was a “sad day”. 

Oxford Mail:

Dexter West, on the Playbus during a visit to Edmonds Park, Didcot, last year

He said: “The sensory bus was amazing, the youth bus was  fantastic at encouraging older children to come along and the playbus was like a massive blue circus tent. They were key players at our events, and it’s a real shame because there is nothing like it.” 

Tym Soper, who worked for the charity for 18 years and managed it for six until February, said: “People will be devastated.” 

Mr Soper, 49, who is still chairman of the national playbus association Working on Wheels, said a new scheme could “definitely” happen in Oxfordshire with the help of the national association. 

In its last financial report to the Charities Commision in 2013, the company said it had an income of £233,433 in the year and had spent £307,774. 

35 years of fun

  • Oxfordshire Playbus was founded by volunteers in 1979 
  • In 2009 the Big Lottery Fund gave it £50,000 towards the cost of its new £140,000 sensory bus
  • In 2012 Oxford Mail parent company Gannett’s charitable wing the Gannett Foundation gave the charity £2,879 so it could buy a 20 x 12ft stage for music festivals
  • After four new trustees joined the charity in November 2013, manager Tym Soper agreed to leave in February 2014
  • In November 2014, marks the end of the road for the charity


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