CHRISTMAS LIGHTS BUS DELIVERS FESTIVE CHEER

Oxford Bus Company delivered some festive cheer this week as its ‘Christmas Lights Bus’ completed a sparkling three-day tour.

Volunteers from local charities KEEN Oxford, Yellow Submarine and Mencap were on-board the Christmas Lights Bus and distributed more than 100 presents and sweets to children. Oxford Bus Company decorated a City Sightseeing Oxford open-top bus for the tours of local communities delivered in partnership with JACK FM.

Soundtracks were played during the tours by JACK FM and those on-board were dressed in Christmas outfits. The tours were also broadcast live via Facebook to spread the goodwill further. The tours were delivered following the success of the Oxford Lights Festival last month.

Phil Southall, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director said: “The Christmas Lights Bus tour has been a wonderful experience for everyone involved. It helped spread so much joy during a challenging time for us all and it was lovely to see the reaction from the communities we visited. It was good to be able to give something back in partnership with three great charities and JACK FM. There has been such a positive public response to the Christmas Lights Bus that we will look at what can be done next year during the festive season.”

Katie Forsyth, Inclusive Communities Manager for Keen Oxford said: "Just when we thought the usual Christmas party was off, the magical Christmas Light Bus came along to help us bring Christmas joy and sparkle to so many people during a difficult time. The people that KEEN, Yellow Submarine and Mencap work with are some of the most vulnerable in Oxfordshire and have been hit particularly hard during the pandemic, so we are especially grateful to all at Oxford Bus Company and Jack FM for making this happen and getting us to the doorsteps of all our members. For anyone inspired by the Christmas Lights Bus, check out KEEN, Yellow Submarine and Mencap on social media or head to our websites to find out how you could get involved."

Caroline O'Connor, Business Development and Brand Partnership Manager at Jack FM said:

“The Christmas Light Bus was a brilliant initiative created by the team at the Oxford Bus Company. The team at JACKfm were delighted to be asked to partner for a second time in such a wonderful activity for the Oxford community. It’s been a tough year, so to have the ability to bring some Christmas magic to so many amazing kids whilst obeying the lockdown rules has been really rewarding.”

Families welcomed the Christmas Lights Bus in multiple communities around Oxford. It visited areas including Cowley, Iffley, Headington, Wood Farm, Blackbird Leys, Horspath, Risinghurst, Marston, Radley, Kennington, Abingdon, Wootton, Cumnor, Botley, Cutteslowe as well as the City Centre.