OXFORD BUS COMPANY ‘BRAND THE BUS’ COMPETITION WINNER ANNOUNCED

•BLUE SKYE THINKING SCOOP FIRST PRIZE TO HAVE AN ENTIRE BUS BRANDED IN ITS COLOURS

•SECOND PLACED CHARITY ABINGDON RIDING FOR THE DISABLED TO RECEIVE A BUS REAR ADVERTISEMENT SPACE

Oxford Bus Company has confirmed Blue Skye Thinking as the winner of the eagerly contested Brand the Bus competition.

The children’s brain tumour charity has been invited to work with Oxford Bus Company to design a bus wrap featuring the brand colours, logo and messages of the organisation. It was selected by a judging panel from a top ten group of good causes which had earned the most public votes from 23 original entries.

Oxford Bus Company has also awarded the space on a bus rear for branding to second placed Abingdon Riding for the Disabled Association, a charity that enriches the lives of disabled adults and children via horses.

Reducing the Risk (of Domestic Abuse) came third and Against Breast Cancer fourth in the final placements and both will receive marketing support. The winners were decided by a judging panel, which included BBC Radio Oxford presenter Kat Orman, Grant Hayward from Collaborent and representatives from Oxford Bus Company. The winner was revealed live on BBC Radio Oxford by Kat Orman.

Phil Southall, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, said: “Congratulations to Blue Skye Thinking and to everyone who entered. It was an incredibly close call to select the final three and the overall winner from so many fantastic good causes. Blue Skye Thinking put a lot into their submission, including details of a wider marketing campaign involving the bus over a prolonged period. They also achieved the most public votes and so were worthy winners. We are looking forward to working with them on their design for a bus.

“The final decision was so close that we decided to award Abingdon Riding for the Disabled with a bus rear in recognition of the great work they do. We will also look at how we can support Reducing the Risk to raise the profile of the good work that they do. The response to the competition has been overwhelming and is a timely reminder of the good causes in our community, especially during this challenging period. While it remains difficult for transport operators during the pandemic, we felt it was important to maintain the Brand the Bus competition to give something back and continue to support good causes at a time when it is needed more than ever.”

Blue Skye Thinking supports research into the treatment of childhood brain tumours, striving to give all children diagnosed a better chance of survival and improved quality of life. It was set up on the family of Skye Hall who was diagnosed with a grade 4 medulloblastoma in 2013. Despite surgery and treatment Skye passed away a year later.

Sally Hall, Director of Blue Skye said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been chosen as the winner. It was an honour to have received so many votes from our supporters to enable us to proudly stand alongside some of the big charities in Oxford that also strive to deliver so much to the community.

“I watched the videos from all entries and certainly learned a lot from some of the smaller charities, and in such strained times, it just goes to show how proactive and incredible people can be to help others. Oxford Bus Company offers such a unique opportunity, and the impact it will have for Blue Skye Thinking and children with brain tumours will be very significant indeed. Thank you to everyone who helped us and voted for us.”

Some 7,165 unique online votes were cast for the entries made by charities and good causes, almost 1,000 more votes than in the previous year’s competition.

The finalists were: Blue Skye Thinking, Abingdon Riding for the Disabled Group, Helen & Douglas House, Maggie’s Oxford, Against Breast Cancer, Shine Oxford, Sobell House Hospice, Reducing the Risk, Oxfordshire Mind and SeeSaw.