Brand the Bus 2025 attracts record-breaking number of public votes as entries close

A record number of people voted for their favourite charity to win Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel’s annual Brand the Bus competition this year.

Launched in 2018, Brand the Bus offers Oxfordshire based charities and not-for-profit organisations the chance to have their branding emblazoned across an entire electric double-decker bus which will serve the county’s roads for a year.

Last year the Brand the Bus competition received a record-breaking 11,000 votes, which was won by Oxford Hospitals Charity, while Be Free Young Carers and Style Acre received runners-up prizes.

This year, 12,266 members of the public cast their votes for charities hoping to scoop the top prize which is collectively worth £100,000.

As well as being branded on a double-decker bus, the winner will also receive on-board digital screen advertising, airtime on local station Get Radio and the opportunity to become Oxford City Football Club’s official charity partner for the 2025-26 season.

In addition, highly commended runners-up will win onboard bus advertising packages worth £2,000 and £1,000.

An incredible 64 good causes that deliver positive impact in Oxfordshire entered the competition, with each submitting a simple online entry form stating what it would mean to win. The public vote opened on New Year’s Day and closed at midnight on Tuesday 1st April.

The top 10 entries chosen by the public will now be shortlisted and announced soon, with the winners picked by a panel of judges. Prizes will be awarded to charities that, in the panel’s opinion, have fulfilled the brief to the highest standard.

The winning organisation will be announced in June, and the bus emblazoned with the winner’s brand set to hit the roads of Oxford and surrounding areas in the autumn.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel, said: “We have had a fantastic response to this year’s competition with record numbers of public votes and every year we see more nominations.

“Brand the Bus clearly continues to capture the imagination of the public who want to support all the good causes doing great work in our community. As ever the standard of entries was incredibly high, and it will be extremely difficult to choose a winner.

“I’d like to thank all charities who took time to enter Brand the Bus 2025 and wish all the shortlisted entrants the best of luck.”

Previous Brand the Bus winners include young people’s grief support charity SeeSaw, Girl Guiding Oxfordshire, family support organisation Home-Start Oxford, children’s brain tumour charity Blue Skye Thinking and mental health charity Restore.

ENDS