Two ponies paid Oxford Bus Company a special visit this week to celebrate the unveiling of a double-decker emblazoned in a riding charity’s branding.
Abingdon Riding for the Disabled Association scooped second place in Oxford Bus Company’s annual Brand the Bus competition. Its prize was having the rear of a bus wrapped in the charity’s branding to help raise awareness of the local good cause.
Members of Abingdon Riding for the Disabled Association, along with two of its prized ponies, Jasper and Jim-Bob, visited the Cowley House depot in Oxford this week to see the vehicle for the first time. The rear of the bus which will be used on City services in Oxford has been transformed.
Phil Southall, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, said: “Abingdon Riding for the Disabled Association really captured the imagination of both the public and the judging panel. We are pleased to have been able to help such a worthwhile charity that is doing so much good work in our community. I was delighted to meet Jasper and Jim-Bob and understand much better from the volunteers who work with them the great work that they do.
“For this year’s Brand the Bus, we added the bus rear advertising space as an additional prize to give further value and opportunity to those who entered. The bus looks fantastic and is another wonderful addition to our growing fleet of buses branded with local good causes as part of our community values.”
Alice Summersbee, of Abingdon Riding for the Disabled Association said: “We are all so grateful to Oxford Bus Company for running the Brand the Bus competition and selecting our charity to be on the back of one of its double-decker.
“The publicity this will bring for the charity will be second to none, and we look forward to using the bus to raise awareness of what we do within the charity.”
Abingdon Riding for the Disabled Association provides unique therapy to children and adults with disabilities via horses. Participants enjoy the experience of riding and socialising which helps build confidence and improve well-being.
Local children’s brain tumour charity, Blue Skye Thinking, won the first prize and its fully wrapped bus is now in service. Oxford Bus Company has previously backed Oxford Pride, Oxfordshire Prostate Cancer Support Group, GirlGuiding Oxfordshire and Home-Start Oxfordshire with new liveries for buses.
The Brand the Bus competition offers local good causes the opportunity to have its branding on a double-decker bus. The fourth edition of the competition is now live and good causes and charities can enter now to be in with a chance to win. To find out more and to enter please visit here.
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