The Oxford Hospitals Charity will have its logo displayed on a double-decker bus after winning a competition.

The charity clinched the top spot in the Brand the Bus! competition which is run by Oxford Bus Company.

The charity will have its logo and key messages displayed on an Oxford Bus Company double-decker bus, which will be electric for the first time.

Oxford Mail: (L-R) Sarah Vaccari, head of communications at Oxford Hospitals Charity, Tabitha Atieno, and Lorna Eaton(L-R) Sarah Vaccari, head of communications at Oxford Hospitals Charity, Tabitha Atieno, and Lorna Eaton (Image: Oxford Bus Company)

 

The organisation will also receive a year’s worth of advertising with Greatest Hits Radio.

The charity, which supports hospitals in the Oxford University NHS Trust, provides medical equipment, research, and facilities aimed at benefiting both staff and patients.

Head of communications at Oxford Hospitals Charity, Sarah Vaccari, said: "We are utterly thrilled to learn that Oxford Hospitals Charity has won the Brand the Bus competition.

“So many wonderful local charities entered this very special contest, so we are incredibly grateful to all those who took the time to vote for our cause.

"Oxford Hospitals Charity funds specialist medical equipment that’s at the forefront of technology and creates more welcoming and positive hospital environments for patients, young and old.

"Branding the bus will take our charity message out of the hospitals and into the high street – allowing us to inspire more people, raise more funds."

Be Free Young Carers, based in Harwell near Didcot, which provide emotional support and social and recreational activities to children with caring responsibilities across Oxfordshire, secured a new ‘mega rear’ advertisement on a bus as part of the contest.

Style Acre, which which offers supported living, work and skills programmes for individuals with learning disabilities and autism through its community centres in Didcot, Wallingford and Banbury, is set to receive digital on-board advertising worth £1,000.

This year's Brand the Bus! saw more than 11,000 individuals casting their votes - more than ever before.

The winner and runners up were selected by a judging panel based on this shortlist.

Luke Marion, managing director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “It was a challenging task selecting the overall winner from so many worthy good causes and well-considered submissions.

"Oxford Hospitals Charity won the panel’s vote as it produced a compelling submission in which the team identified how they share similar values to Oxford Bus Company.

“We’re looking forward to working with them on their design for our first branded electric bus and will also look at how we can support the highly commended finalists."

He added: "The response to the competition has been overwhelming, as ever, with so many entries and votes that we have decided to make it an annual contest to give more good causes the opportunity to raise their profile."