Business & Technology
25km charity walk through Oxfordshire countryside planned
Bicester-based wine importer North South Wines is organising the 25km walk, which will take place on March 26 and raise funds for Oxford mental health charity Restore and industry charity The Drinks Trust.
The route will take the team from Bicester Motion to Restore’s headquarters on Manzil Way in Oxford, passing through Morton and Beckley along the way.
Kim Wilson, managing director of North South Wines, said: “We’re really excited to bring the team together for another charity challenge. We’re supporting two incredible charities: Restore does invaluable mental health work in our community, and The Drinks Trust supports people across our industry.
“Getting outdoors and active with the team while raising funds for causes we believe in makes this challenge feel especially worthwhile.”
The walk marks the final leg of the company’s NSW 5000 challenge, a month-long effort during which colleagues across the UK have aimed to collectively cover 5,090km through various human-powered activities. By March 25, the team had already completed 4,750km, with the final charity walk expected to take them past their target.
The total distance represents a virtual journey from North South Wines’ Bicester office to its shareholder sites in Germany, Belgium, and Italy, and back again, with each participant contributing an average of around 150km throughout March.
Restore is an Oxfordshire charity that supports adults recovering from mental ill health through recovery groups, training, and employment coaching.
Beth Hendry, CEO of Restore, said: “We are incredibly grateful to North South Wines for their generosity, energy and commitment to raising both funds and awareness for Restore. At a time of growing economic uncertainty, rising living costs and increasing demand for our services, this support helps us reach more people with vital mental health services, making a real and lasting difference to lives across our community.”
The Drinks Trust is a trade charity that offers wellbeing, financial, and career support to people throughout the drinks industry.
Nicky Burston, CEO of The Drinks Trust, said: “We are so grateful to the North South Wines team for choosing to support us through such an inspiring challenge.
“The funds raised will make a real and lasting difference to thousands of colleagues across our industry who are facing hardship. Thank you so much for your generous support.”
North South Wines, founded in 2014, is part-owned by three international wineries and became the first wine distributor to achieve B Corp certification in 2023.
The popular shopping centre in Oxford’s Queen Street already has an exciting mix of shops on offer, from first-class dining options to familiar high street favourites and world-renowned brands.
Now, the Westgate has welcomed the latest addition to its retail offering, as David Clulow opticians opened on Friday, June 26.
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The eye health specialist store showcases the brand’s modernised retail format, with state-of-the-art testing rooms and improved accessibility.
It’s broad product range also includes designer frames from the likes of Chanel, Prada and Ray-Ban.
The store is the latest edition to David Clulow’s store collection which is hosted in nearly 30 cities and shopping centres across the UK.
The introduction of the new shop is the latest in a long line of recent Westgate comings and goings in recent months.
Shoe chain Russell & Bromley has departed its ground-floor store, leaving the unit empty, after the brand fell into administration.
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Similarly, Claire’s has also closed at the Westgate after the beauty and accessory brand also collapsed into administration.
Last month, the new Lego store opened on the ground floor of the centre, welcoming queues of shoppers at its grand opening event.
Oliver Bonas also recently moved from its home on the ground floor to a much larger unit on the middle floor, near the Queen Street and Bonn Square entrance.
The scheme, designed to support attendance at Armed Forces Day events, will be in effect across the UK on June 27 and June 28.
It applies to all Stagecoach services except those operated by Megabus, Transport for London and the Bee Network.
To access free travel, serving military should wear uniform or present a valid military ID card, and veterans should present a veteran’s badge or military medal.
Martin Gibbon, managing director of Stagecoach West, said: “Our Armed Forces have given so much to protect our country, and offering free travel over this weekend is just a small gesture of our immense gratitude.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for our service people, past and present, to attend local events and celebrate with their communities.”
Stagecoach’s ongoing support for the military community includes similar free travel schemes on Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday.
The company’s Veterans Network also offers a platform for veterans and service families within the business to connect and shape a more supportive workplace.
Stagecoach was awarded the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award in 2024 in recognition of its commitment to supporting the military community.
Mr Gibbon said: “Through our Veterans Network, we are dedicated to ensuring Stagecoach remains a deeply supportive environment for the military community, both as passengers and as valued colleagues.”
Stagecoach has backed the Armed Forces Covenant since 2015.
Banbury-based Prodrive has joined forces with the British Motorsports Marshals Club (BMMC) in a new three-year partnership to back the more than 3,000 marshals represented by the BMMC.
Easily recognised by their trademark orange overalls, marshals play a critical role in the safe operation of racing events across circuits, rally stages, and hill climbs throughout the UK.
David Richards, chairman of Prodrive, said: “Motorsport simply wouldn’t happen without marshals.
“They are the backbone of our sport, giving their time, commitment and passion to ensure events run safely and successfully.”
The partnership will focus on raising awareness of the marshals’ work using the idea of ‘British Racing Orange’ and aims to strengthen the connection between the sport and its volunteer workforce.
It will also support the BMMC’s efforts to recruit, train, and equip new and existing marshals.
Chris Hobson, chair of the BMMC, said: “Marshals are one of the most visible and vital parts of motorsport.
“Our partnership with Prodrive will help us continue training and equipping marshals, helping them stay safe every time they are trackside.
“By working together, we can inspire more people to discover marshalling and join the BMMC.”
While Prodrive’s factory programmes compete globally across disciplines including endurance racing, rally-raid and beyond, the company remains deeply connected to the UK motorsport ecosystem and the marshal community that supports it.
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