Oxford mental health charity One-Eighty has been announced as the winner of the Oxford Bus Company’s 2025 Brand the Bus competition, securing a prize package worth £100,000 and a major visibility boost across the county.
Founded in 2011, One-Eighty supports children and young adults across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, helping them re-engage with education through one-to-one interventions, early mental health support and training for professionals working with vulnerable children. The charity was selected from a record number of entries and public votes in this year’s competition, designed to spotlight community-focused organisations doing vital work.
As part of their win, One-Eighty will have their branding wrapped across an electric double-decker bus in Oxford – a striking mobile campaign that will bring the charity’s message to the streets. The package also includes:
- Free onboard advertising
- Radio exposure on Get Radio
- Recognition as Oxford City Football Club’s official charity partner for the 2025–26 season
“A Tremendous Opportunity to Raise Awareness”
CEO and founder Susie Besant was surprised live on air during the Get Radio breakfast show, where the news was announced by host Rich Smith.
“This is incredible news,” said Besant. “We are so pleased to be named as Oxford Bus Company’s Brand the Bus winner for 2025!
“We are so grateful to every person who took time to vote for One-Eighty so we made the final shortlist from 65 fantastic charities and good causes which entered and operate to improve the lives of people in Oxfordshire.
“Our focus has always been to deliver sustainable, long-term, change for each young person we engage.
“By equipping them and their families with the tools required to return to education, we can ensure as many schoolchildren locally can become the best version of themselves both today and in years to come.
“Winning Brand the Bus will have such a positive impact on people’s awareness and understanding of our work, and we’d like to thank everyone at Oxford Bus Group, Get Radio and Oxford City FC for this tremendous opportunity.”
Mental Health Support That’s Never Been More Needed
Since the pandemic, demand for One-Eighty’s services has soared, with referrals tripling since 2019. The need is urgent: government figures show that one in five children in the UK is now experiencing mental health challenges, and a third of adult conditions can be linked to adverse experiences in childhood.
One-Eighty’s reach is already significant:
- Over 2,000 one-to-one sessions delivered annually
- 850+ children reached via their Make Me Smile mental health awareness project last academic year
With the exposure and partnerships gained through this win, the charity hopes to extend its impact even further.
Strong Community Competition
Oxford Bus Company’s Managing Director, Luke Marion, praised the high calibre of entries.
“A huge congratulations to One-Eighty for winning this year’s Brand the Bus competition” said Marion. “After receiving a record number of entries, choosing a winner this year was more challenging than ever, and a huge thank you to all our entrants for taking the time to engage with the competition.
“One-Eighty’s submission and work to address mental health challenges children in Oxfordshire are facing right now really resonated with our team and we’re looking forward to working with the charity on its design for this year’s electric bus.
“It was genuinely touching to hear how much winning Brand the Bus meant to Susie and her team, and underlined to us why running this competition annually is an important aspect of our engagement with the communities we serve.”
Runners-Up Also Recognised
Two more outstanding Oxfordshire charities were honoured:
- Helen & Douglas House, the world’s first children’s hospice, received the runner-up prize: a bus rear advertisement and on-board promotions worth £20,000+
- Sobell House, which provides end-of-life care to adults in the region, was awarded a digital on-bus ad package worth £5,000
About Brand the Bus
The Brand the Bus initiative is now in its seventh year, designed to give local charities meaningful marketing support. It’s part of Oxford Bus Company’s wider commitment to community engagement and sustainability — all bus branding this year will appear on fully electric vehicles.
Learn More or Get Involved
To find out more about One-Eighty or to support their work, visit:
https://one-eighty.org.uk
To see more about Brand the Bus or Oxford Bus Company’s community work, visit:
https://www.oxfordbus.co.uk
