Oxford News
Care home director wins Barchester Cook Off competition
Alison Donaldson, managing director of Barchester’s North West and Midlands Division, led her team to victory in the Barchester Charitable Foundation Cook Off 2026, helping to raise £53,000 for the charity.
The winning team, named the Pressure Cookers and made up of managing directors and a hospital director from five of Barchester’s divisions, competed against the executive team, the Rolling Scones.
Ms Donaldson said: “It was very much a team effort but I am so proud of what we all achieved. The dishes we created looked amazing and were delicious if I do say so myself.
“We absolutely smashed it out of the park but the icing on the cake was the amount of money we raised thanks to the support of all our homes so I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated.”
The Barchester Charitable Foundation provides grants to improve mobility and quality of life for vulnerable people and those living with disabilities, helping connect them to community groups.
In 2025, the foundation donated £424,000 to 262 groups, charities, and 123 individuals across England, Scotland and Wales.
General manager Tyisa Houghton at Hempton Field, a Barchester care home in Chinnor, said: “We are all in awe of Chef Alison, is there nothing she can’t do? All of the MDs did a brilliant job and raised so much money, they are an absolute inspiration to us all.
“The Foundation is a cause very close to all our hearts so this is a remarkable achievement.”
The Pressure Cookers impressed judges with a menu offering three starters, including a lobster bisque with chive crème fraîche and croutons.
Main courses included cod loin with beetroot, asparagus and champ mash, and a homemade sweet potato and chickpea curry. Desserts were white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake or rhubarb crumble custard tart.
Their afternoon tea item, a sausage plait with red onion chutney, was described by judges as “to die for.”
The Cook Off forms part of Barchester’s ongoing efforts to support its charitable foundation, which each year distributes thousands of pounds to those most in need.
The funds raised help connect vulnerable people and those living with a disability to community groups in their local area by providing grants to improve mobility and quality of life.
Ms Donaldson and her team’s efforts have been celebrated not only for their culinary skill but also for their impact on the broader community through vital fundraising.
David Wilson Homes’ The Pavilions, located on Bowlers Close, is now over 95 per cent sold, with just seven homes remaining.
The development offers three and four-bedroom properties designed to suit first-time buyers and growing families.
Helen Lewis, managing director at David Wilson Homes Mercia, said: “We are delighted to announce that we are over 95 per cent sold at The Pavilions and it’s the final opportunity to secure a new home in the community.”
Launched in September 2021, The Pavilions will provide a total of 148 new homes.
The project also includes more than 23 acres of green space, 49 bird and bat boxes, 325 new trees, a wetland meadow, and community allotments.
Ms Lewis added: “We’ve enjoyed great success at the development and it’s been fantastic to see the community take shape.
“We encourage anyone interested in securing a place at The Pavilions to visit our marketing suite to learn more about the properties available.”
More than £750,000 was pledged to support the local area through S106 agreements, including £300,000 for schools and early year education, £186,869 for onsite outdoor sports facilities, and a £34,230 bus infrastructure contribution.
The developer has supported the wider Banbury community through event sponsorships and donations to organisations such as Banbury Men’s Shed and The Let’s Play Project.
All remaining homes are ready to move into, with prices starting from £390,000.
Nearly £38,000 has been donated to Katharine House Hospice in north Oxfordshire over the past 18 months, thanks to recycled metals from cremations at North Oxfordshire Crematorium.
The scheme is part of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) Metals Recycling Scheme, which recycles metals with family consent and donates proceeds to charity.
Vanessa Moor, site manager at North Oxfordshire Crematorium, said: “We are incredibly proud to support Katharine House Hospice through our ICCM charity partnership, recognising it as our essential local charity.
“Many people don’t realise that, with a family’s permission, metals recovered following cremation can be recycled to benefit charities supporting local communities.”
The most recent donation of £17,000 brings the total raised for the hospice to £37,982.
Ms Moor said families frequently speak highly of the care and support they have received from Katharine House.
The partnership extends beyond fundraising, with crematorium staff volunteering at the hospice’s events.
Sue Blank, corporate engagement officer at Katharine House Hospice, said: “We are thrilled to have Memoria’s continued support.
“The team at the North Oxfordshire site are a pleasure to work with and are always keen to support the hospice in any way they can, whether through volunteering, raising awareness of our work or through this fantastic recycling scheme.”
Waylands Volvo Oxford, based on Cumnor Hill, is inviting drivers to test drive the new Volvo EX60 during an exclusive event from August 21-23.
Recently named the UK’s most exciting upcoming new car at the What Car? Awards, the fully electric SUV combines Scandinavian design with advanced technology and sustainability.
Simon Bishop, general manager at Waylands Volvo Oxford, said: “We’re delighted to welcome local drivers for an exclusive first look at the new Volvo EX60 here in Oxford.
“This weekend long event is designed to be much more than a standard test drive, giving customers the chance to experience the technology that makes the EX60 so special.
“Whether it’s trying the latest safety features, seeing how straightforward fast charging can be or exploring the capabilities of Google Gemini, we want every visitor to leave feeling excited and confident about driving electric.”
The Volvo EX60 P12 AWD model offers a range of up to 503 miles on a single charge – the longest of any Volvo to date.
It can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 16 minutes.
Inside, the SUV features a spacious, premium cabin with a dashboard-mounted speaker and four contemporary interiors, all crafted from renewable and recycled materials.
Test drives will be guided by a Volvo specialist, who will demonstrate features such as the 360-degree camera, parking sensors, and driver assistance systems.
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