Charities and community groups across Oxfordshire are being urged to act quickly, with just two weeks remaining to enter this year’s Brand the Bus competition.
Run by Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel, the initiative offers a prize package worth £100,000, designed to give one local good cause a major boost in visibility across the county.
Nominations close on Monday 31 March 2026.
What is Brand the Bus?
Brand the Bus is an annual competition that gives charities the chance to promote their work on a large scale.
The winning organisation will receive a year-long advertising campaign centred around a fully branded electric double-decker bus, alongside additional exposure through transport, media and sport partnerships.
Entries can be submitted via a short online form, after which the competition moves into a public vote running from 1 to 30 April.
What the winner receives
The £100,000 prize package includes:
- A full bus wrap advertisement on an electric double-decker for one year
- Free on-board advertising across Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel services
- Radio advertising on Get Radio
- Being named Oxford City Football Club’s charity partner for the 2026/27 season
A runner-up will also receive a £5,000 prize package, including on-bus digital advertising.
Strong early interest
More than 20 entries have already been submitted since nominations opened on 2 March, with organisers encouraging more charities to come forward before the deadline.
The competition is supported by Get Radio and Oxford City Football Club, both of which will play a role in promoting the winning organisation.
Hamish Law, Commercial Director at Get Radio, said:
“We’re delighted to be supporting Brand the Bus again this year, giving even more Oxfordshire charities the opportunity to win a truly game-changing level of exposure across the county.”
Chris Williams, Head of Partnerships at Oxford City FC, added:
“So many charities do such incredible work across the Oxfordshire community, and this is a fantastic way to help spread the word all around the county.”
What happens after voting
Once public voting closes at the end of April, the top 10 shortlisted organisations will be reviewed by a panel of judges, who will select the overall winner.
The successful charity will then work with Oxford Bus Company on the design of the bus, with the branded vehicle expected to launch in autumn 2026.
Previous winners
Last year’s competition was won by children’s mental health charity One-Eighty, with Helen & Douglas House named as runner-up.
Other past winners include:
- Girlguiding Oxfordshire
- Home-Start Oxfordshire
- Blue Skye Thinking
- Restore
- SeeSaw
- Oxford Hospitals Charity
How to enter
Charities and community groups can enter by completing the online nomination form before 31 March.
More information and entry details are available at:
oxfordbus.co.uk/brand-the-bus-2026
At a glance
| Detail | Information |
| Competition | Brand the Bus 2026 |
| Deadline | 31 March 2026 |
| Voting period | 1 – 30 April 2026 |
| Top prize | £100,000 package |
| Runner-up prize | £5,000 package |
| Organisers | Oxford Bus Company & Thames Travel |
