Crime & Safety
Oxfordshire Katharine House Hospice hosting new challenge
Pace Around the World is raising funds for Katharine House Hospice, which provides free palliative care across north Oxfordshire and south Northamptonshire.
Taking place throughout June, the challenge invites individuals, businesses and community groups to collectively travel more than 40,000 miles, the distance around the globe, in 30 days.
Roseann Thompson, community engagement manager at Katharine House Hospice, said: “After the incredible energy, dedication and community spirit our supporters have brought to our events before, we’re excited to be launching this brand new virtual challenge.
“Pace Around the World is all about coming together to do something and has been designed so that everyone can take part.
“Whether you walk, run, wheel, cycle or swim, every mile you log helps move us further along our journey, all while raising much needed funds for Katharine House Hospice.
“It’s flexible, fun and you can take part wherever you are, at your own pace.”
The virtual route – which starts and ends at Katherin House – will pass through more than 30 countries and 60 cities, with milestones including the Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China.
The challenge has backing from headline sponsor GRAF UK, whose team is already planning how to reach their own mileage goals.
Callum Vallance-Poole from GRAF UK said: “As a team, we love a challenge and even more so when it means raising money for our local hospice.”
To find out more about Pace Around the World and take advantage of the early bird registration fee of £20 until 24 April, visit khh.org.uk/pace
Crime & Safety
Didcot charity Play2Give now supported by Oxfordshire FA
Founded in 2007 by brain injury survivor Andrew Baker, Play2Give has raised funds for projects across Oxfordshire that aim to ‘change, transform, and save lives.’
The Didcot-based charity supports children, health, and disability causes, and runs popular seasonal campaigns including Easter egg and Christmas Sleigh2Give toy drive.
Oxfordshire FA has announced it will support and compete in Play2Give’s 15th annual Charity Football Tournament at Wallingford Sports Park on July 12.
A spokesman for Play2Give said: “We are immensely excited to announce this new partnership with Oxfordshire’s very own Football Association.
“Being the new charity partner of Oxfordshire FA really is special, and a true Match of the Day-class partnership, that means that Play2Give can but only continue to grow and thrive, thanks to the fantastic premiership awareness and increase in funds for the charity that this truly special partnership will bring.
“Sport plays a powerful role in people’s wellbeing, such as in many cases improving quality of life, rebuilding lost skills and simply improving mental wellbeing – and so it’s a perfect link-up.”
The charity’s recent work includes funding a sensory room at Oxford Head Injury Services, a named patient room at the John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital, and more than £3,000 towards renovating a bathroom at Sobell House hospice.
A spokesperson for Play2Give added: “By signing up for what is always a very special charity tournament, you will be helping us to make an enormous difference to the lives of so many – from children and families in hospital to those adults living with the impact of a brain injury, enhancing, changing, transforming and saving lives right here across the county.”
Oxfordshire FA’s chief executive Jonathan Duckworth highlighted the connection between football and wider community health.
Mr Duckworth said: “Oxfordshire football already saves NHS Oxfordshire £45 million every year through our support for mental and physical health and wellbeing.
“We have helped to promote the annual Play 2 Give six-a-side football tournament in the past and are hugely impressed by the way in which they support our local hospitals.”
He explained that the partnership will be part of the Oxfordshire FA’s 1884 Club, which focuses on supporting the community through corporate social responsibility.
Mr Duckworth said: “We’re encouraging our partners and others to get their boots on and have fun raising funds at this 12 July 2026 Charity Football Tournament – and join us in continuing to support the incredible work Play2Give does throughout the county.”
The tournament is open to teams from businesses and community groups across the region.
Crime & Safety
Warning after stolen car bought on Facebook marketplace
Thames Valley Police’s roads policing unit said buyers should ‘beware’ after a car was recently stopped and discovered to be stolen.
The ‘owner’ had bought it, they thought legitimately, through online second-hand retail platform Facebook marketplace, ‘thinking they’d found a bargain’.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire councils’ senior staff paid £13m last year
A spokesperson for police said: “Just a heads-up to everyone scrolling through marketplace looking for a good deal…
“Someone recently bought a car through Facebook marketplace, thinking they’d found a bargain.
“Everything looked legit at first, but it turns out the vehicle had actually been stolen.
“Now they’re left without the car and out of pocket, and learnt a tough and expensive lesson.”
Advise for would-be car buyers through retail platforms online includes checking the vehicle history through and HPI check, making sure the V5C logbook is present and matches the seller and verify the seller’s ID and address.
Police also recommended not paying in cash or without proper receipts and being ‘cautious’ of deals which look too good to be true.
Crime & Safety
Oxford’s Helen & Douglas House creates ten beautiful songs
The songs were written and produced as part of The Keepsake Circle project, which is delivered through the charity’s bereavement support services.
Each song is a personal tribute to a child who has died, created in collaboration with their families to capture the memories, love, and personality of each child.
Michaela Middleton, whose 14-year-old son Finley died in May 2023 and was a regular visitor to the hospice, said: “Helen & Douglas House has been a lifeline for our family.
“Everyone has been so kind and supportive, not just to Finley, but to all of us.
“When Finley passed away our whole world fell apart. We wanted our song to include things that Finley did and how he lived his life.
“We feel privileged to be a part of this project.
“To be able to remember our son, Finley, in a musical way is astonishing.
“Thank you, Helen & Douglas House, Kiki and Angus, for such an amazing experience.
“This has been a transformation for us in our journey of grief and Finley will live forever in song.”
Each family worked with the charity’s bereavement team and The Keepsake Circle’s Kiki Deville and Angus Powell to turn their memories into music.
Kiki Deville, who is a bereaved parent herself, said: “It is an honour and a privilege to get to know these children through the memories of their wonderful families.
“This is my son Dexter’s legacy, and I feel very proud that I can keep his name alive in doing this work.”
Sally Hayes, director of nursing and care at Helen & Douglas House, said: “Working with The Keepsake Circle gives another choice in our bereavement toolkit so that we can reach out to more families and better support those who might otherwise not use our services.
“It was a very emotional afternoon spending time with the families when they heard the songs performed live in their child’s memory for the first time.”
The album, titled Keepsake Circle: Helen & Douglas – Part 2, is available to stream or download on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, and Amazon.
Released on April 6, 2026, it serves as a permanent keepsake for families and a way for others to support the hospice.
All proceeds from the album will go to Helen & Douglas House.
The project is part of the charity’s wider bereavement support, which includes emotional and practical help for parents, siblings, and grandparents for as long as they need it.
Most of these services are funded through donations.
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