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Oxford pupils return from two-week charity visit to Kenya

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The group travelled to the rural community of Musanda in western Kenya to work alongside the Nasio Trust, a charity with roots in both Oxfordshire and Kenya.

Based in Abingdon, Nasio supports children through education, healthcare and community development.

The charity is celebrating 25 years of impact this year, having transformed the lives of more than 600 children since its founding in 2001.

Greyfriars Catholic School pupils were in Kenya for a two-week trip. (Image: Greyfriars Catholic School)

To mark the milestone, a church service will be held at Dorchester Abbey on June 14.

Despite a challenging journey that included long delays and disrupted flights, students arrived to a warm welcome from the local community.

Staff said one of the most striking aspects of the visit was the kindness and hospitality shown by everyone they met.

READ MORE: UK electric car company collapses into administration as 69 lose jobs

During the visit, students worked alongside local families, helping to carry water, support basic medical care and build homes for those living in unsafe conditions.

Working together with local builders, Nasio staff and community members, they helped to construct two houses that will provide lasting security for families.

Greyfriars Catholic School pupils were in Kenya for a two-week trip. (Image: Greyfriars Catholic School)

Students also attended lessons in local schools, learning alongside Kenyan pupils.

Despite limited resources, the school said they were struck by the focus, discipline and strong work ethic of the students they met.

The experience offered a “powerful lesson” in service as the students saw first-hand the impact of working for others and alongside others.

The trip also gave students a new perspective on daily life.

Many families in Kenya live without running water or electricity, yet the community is “rich in resilience, joy and care”, the school added.

Students also took part in football matches against teams from Mumias Muslim School.

The games were closely contested and played in a positive spirit, bringing together students and the wider community in a shared sense of enjoyment.

Each evening, the group gathered to reflect on the day, ending with a shared rendition of the song “Happy”, which became a defining tradition of the trip.

Greyfriars Catholic School pupils were in Kenya for a two-week trip. (Image: Greyfriars Catholic School)

The visit concluded with the completion and handover of the houses, alongside the planting of trees to mark the group’s legacy in the community.

Sean Dingley, assistant headteacher at Greyfriars Catholic School, said: “This experience taught our students that service is at the heart of leadership.

“They saw communities working together with generosity and dignity, and it has left a lasting impression on all of us.

“We returned not only proud of what was achieved, but deeply grateful for the relationships we built. It is a place that has stayed with us, and one we hope to return to in the future.”





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Manhunt for Arsenal fan amid London credit card fraud probe

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Thames Valley Police has released a CCTV image of a man they are searching for in relation to money reportedly being fraudulently withdrawn in Oxfordshire, Ascot and London.

The force said that on May 20, the suspected offender obtained the bank card and PIN number of the victim, a woman in her 20s, which were being posted to her address.

READ MORE: Launch date for new Oxford ‘traffic filter’ scheme announced

They then proceeded to withdraw thousands of pounds from the victim’s account over the next 12 days, before the woman became aware and blocked the card.

The money was withdrawn from cash machines at several locations, including NatWest, TSB and Nationwide branches in Witney, HSBC in Chiswick, Nationwide in Oxford, and cash machines at Tesco and Sainsbury’s in Ascot.

Police are searching for this man in relation to a credit card fraud probe (Image: TVP)

This was between 20 May and 1 June 2026.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable David Mathieson, said: “I am appealing to anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity at the cash machines between the dates we are investigating, or has information that may assist us to please get in touch.

READ MORE: Drug and car seized from ‘illegal’ Kia motorist in Oxfordshire town

“If you recognise the man in the image, or if this is you, please contact us.

“Anyone with information should call 101 or make an online report, via our website, quoting crime reference number 43260273378.

“If you don’t want to speak directly with police, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

“If you suspect your card or account has been compromised, contact your bank immediately.”





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Ludwig BBC detective drama second series date announced

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Comedian David Mitchell stars as John “Ludwig” Taylor, a reclusive puzzle designer who assumes the identity of his twin brother – a detective chief inspector – after he goes missing.

The hit series also features Motherland’s Anna Maxwell Martin, with Fleabag star Sian Clifford and Scottish actor Mark Bonnar joining the cast as regulars in the second series which is due to be broadcast in August, with a third series already commissioned.

READ MORE: Ludwig creator reveals secret of series success

The detective drama set in Cambridge is one of the BBC’s most successful in terms of viewing figures for many years.

Mr Mitchell has strong Oxfordshire connections – he grew up in Oxford where he enjoyed watching Inspector Morse on ITV, and was a pupil at Abingdon School.

David Mitchell in Ludwig (Image: BBC/Big Talk Studios/Olly Courtney)

The BBC has confirmed that Ludwig will return for its second series later this month, with all six episodes to be released as a box set on iPlayer from the same date.

The newly confirmed release date is Thursday, August 20 at 9pm on BBC One, confirming what the BBC had previously teased only as an August 2026 return.

Perhaps an added bonus for fans is that, rather than waiting week by week, they will be able to binge the entire box set on iPlayer as soon as the opening episode airs.

David Mitchell returns in his role as John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, now working officially as a Crime Scene Consultant for the Cambridge Police Authority, teaming up with DCI Russell Carter on seemingly “impossible” crimes.

No longer masquerading as James, he is “more Ludwig than ever”, brilliant at puzzles but hopeless at almost everything else – the fate of his brother, though, still eludes him.

Returning alongside Mitchell are Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor, Dipo Ola as DI Russell Carter, Dorothy Atkinson as DCS Carol Shaw, Ralph Ineson as Chief Constable Ziegler, Karl Pilkington as DI Matt Neville and Dylan Hughes as Henry Betts-Taylor.

The new series also introduces new faces, including Mark Bonnar (Guilt, Line of Duty) as newspaper editor Gareth Fisher and Sian Clifford (Fleabag) as local MP Joanne Kemper.

Ben Ashenden and Rumi Sutton co-star as DC Ethan Cole and DC Caitlin Sullivan respectively.

The BBC will be hoping to repeat the runaway success of the first series.

Ludwig launched in 2024 to strong reviews and sizeable audiences, drawing more than 9.5 million viewers and ranking among the BBC’s biggest scripted hits of the year, according to the Radio Times.

It also earned a 97 per cent score on reviews site Rotten Tomatoes, cementing its reputation as a quirky detective drama with puzzles at the heart of the plot.

Mark Brotherhood is the series creator.





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UK charity Oxfam launches new rental service for clothes

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The UK charity, which has more than 500 stores nationwide, launched the pilot in early August, making it the first time a national UK charity had offered clothing rental alongside its retail shops.

Customers can hire selected donated garments for 14 days, with prices starting at £22.

The launch collection features vintage items, including a Balenciaga dress, a Stella McCartney jacket, and a Dolce & Gabbana dress.

Oxfam launches new rental service for clothes in first for sector

Julie Tyrell, head of ecommerce and retail sustainability at Oxfam, said: “We see pieces come through our shops that you simply won’t find anywhere else, and until now the only way to own one was to buy it outright.

“Rental means people can access that wardrobe for the moment they need it and then not let it sit in a cupboard afterwards.”

The clothing is cleaned and prepared before being sent to customers, who return it at the end of the rental period for reuse.

Oxfam developed the service with fashion rental and fulfilment company ACS, which is providing its operational infrastructure.

Anthony Burns, chief operating officer at ACS, said the partnership showed how circular retail models could deliver environmental and social benefits.

Income generated by the service will support Oxfam’s charitable work.

The pilot launched ahead of Oxfam’s annual Second-Hand September campaign, which encourages people to buy pre-owned clothing instead of new items.

UK charities closing stores

In other news for the charity sector, others are closing sites across the country.

Cancer Research UK is in the process of shutting stores as it works to reduce the size its our core high street chain to around 320 high-performing shops.

It revealed previously that it would be closing around 90 shops by May this year, with up to 100 more by April 2027.  

Its online marketplace shut down earlier this year, and the charity is now shifting focus toward 12 new out-of-town superstores.

Meanwhile, the British Heart Foundation announced plans to close 150 of its charity shops across the UK, representing nearly a quarter of its 640 total locations.


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The closures will happen over a two-year period due to rising operating costs and a drop in net profits.

Around 90 shops are scheduled to shut down by the end of March 2027, with the first 87 specific branch locations already publicly identified.

The remaining targeted stores will close by March 2028.

Do you shop at local charity shops? If so, what is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.





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