The public vote for Oxford Bus Company’s ‘Brand the Bus!’ competition has closed, and 10 good causes have been nominated for the grand finale.

A record number of public votes were received to nominate a local good cause to win an advertising package worth £40,000, including have their branding emblazoned on one of the Oxford Bus Company’s new electric buses.

The finalists are: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, Sobell House Hospice Charity, Helen and Douglas House, Oxford Hospitals Charity, Rainbow Trust Children's Charity, Style Acre, SSNAP, Yellow Submarine, Oxfordshire Youth and Be Free Young Carers.

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The top 10 good causes will now go before a judging panel next month who will select the winner.

Prizes will be awarded to the competitors who have, in the panel’s opinion, fulfilled the brief to the highest standard.

Oxford Mail: Luke Marion, managing director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “It has been fantastic to see record-breaking public involvement with Brand the Bus! this year and we have received many top-quality entries.

“The competition continues to resonate with the charity sector and our wider community, as it’s a great opportunity for good causes to showcase what they do and gain increased support.

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“I would like to thank all the organisations that entered and everyone who took the time to vote.

"There is an added layer of excitement this year as the winning entry will be placed on an electric bus for the first time as we accelerate towards an all-electric city fleet.

“We look forward to selecting the overall winner and working closely with the winners on the design.”

The winning organisation will be invited to work with the bus company to design a bus wrap featuring the brand colours, logo and messages of the charity.

It will also receive a year’s worth of advertising with the Greatest Hits Radio.

Two runners-up entries will win advertising packages worth £2,000 and £1,000 respectively.

Oxford-based bereavement charity SeeSaw won last year's contest.

SeeSaw provides grief support for children, young people and their families in Oxfordshire.

The bus company has previously backed Oxford Pride, Oxfordshire Prostate Cancer Support Group, GirlGuiding Oxfordshire, Blue Skye Thinking, Restore and Home-Start Oxfordshire with new liveries for buses.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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