Business & Technology
Leading UK charity collapses with £430K owed and jobs lost
Auditory Verbal which is currently based in Kirtlington Road, Chesterton, Bicester, went into liquidation on Friday, May 8, with a statement on its website saying no further operations are expected.
Founded in 2003, Auditory Verbal UK describes itself as the “leading provider of Auditory Verbal therapy in the UK” and has aimed to ensure all deaf children have the same opportunities in life as their hearing peers.
READ MORE: Founder of Oxford private school declared bankrupt amid firm’s £1.4m debts
Among the services it offered were supporting families through therapy, training professionals through an internationally accredited programme, conducting research and increasing awareness.
However, now the charity has closed.
Auditory Verbal stars in BBC One appeal with radio presenter Sara Cox in 2018 (Image: AVUK)
A statement on its website said: “Like many charities, AVUK has been operating in an increasingly challenging and turbulent environment for some time.
“Over recent months, despite strong progress pursing our strategy and continued delivery of high quality, life changing support, the financial pressures facing the charity have intensified to a point where it is no longer possible for us to operate sustainably.
“We understand that the speed of this closure may come as a shock.
“This has been an incredibly difficult decision, taken with the greatest care for the families, professionals and supporters who have placed their trust in AVUK over the years.”
Victoria Prentis, former Banbury MP, visited the charity in 2022 (Image: GOV)
In its latest company accounts the organisation listed 30 employees, all of whom will have lost their jobs.
In addition it noted creditors falling within a year worth £433,557.
Over recent years it was part of an appeal headed by BBC radio presenter Sara Cox and was visited by former Banbury MP Victoria Prentis.
The organisation said it was working to ensure alternate provisions are made for those it is currently helping and said it had supported thousands of children through its therapy.
Auditory Verbal stars in BBC One appeal with radio presenter Sara Cox in 2018 (Image: AVUK)
The spokesperson added: “This work has been made possible by the extraordinary generosity of individuals, families, trusts, foundations and partners who believe deeply in our mission, and we are hugely grateful.”
The charity said that though it campaigned for sustained government support for children who are deaf their calls have “not been met”.
“Access via public services remains very limited,” they said.
They added: “Although AVUK is being wound-up, we are hugely proud to have been part of the collective determination to see a world where all deaf children have the same opportunities in life as their hearing peers.
READ MORE: Fears for Post Office jobs amid WH Smith successor’s restructuring plans
“We are proud to have helped challenge outdated perceptions and raise expectations of what deaf children can do and achieve.
“We hope the progress made will continue to shape a future where all deaf children have access to the early, effective support needed to thrive at school and beyond.”
The company acknowledge that they still owe funds and said that those they owe money to will receive formal notification from S&W Partners who are the proposed liquidators and currently engaged as professional advisors to the Board of AVUK.
Business & Technology
Major milestone as Oxford North office and labs now open
Located within Oxford North, a £1.2 billion innovation district, the fully fitted lab and office space marks the latest milestone in the development of the 64-acre site.
The space is designed to support start-ups, spin-outs, and established businesses across the life sciences, technology and artificial intelligence sectors.
Simon Ruck, managing director of Oxford North, said: “Oxford North has been purposely designed to support businesses at all stages of their development, from start-ups to scale-ups to global corporates.
“Fast-growing businesses require flexible, adaptable space, and this fully fitted lab space means companies can expand quickly in line with funding and research milestones, saving time and costs on fit-outs and delivering operational efficiencies.
“This is essential for smaller companies across the science, technology and innovation sectors.
“Delivering this latest phase at Oxford North, on time, is an important step as we continue building out one of the UK’s most dynamic mixed-use ecosystems, which benefits stakeholders across the city and beyond.”
The new labs, totalling 13,500 sq ft, include on-site technical support, a shared equipment room, and access to specialised facilities such as an -80°C freezer and a fume cupboard.
The associated write-up space features sit-stand desks and has a direct data connection to its lab.
Oxford North’s first phase also includes The Red Hall, a 33,000 sq ft workspace hub spread across four floors.
A new 100-seat auditorium is part of the community-focused amenities on the ground floor of The Red Hall and is available for hire.
Designed to support collaboration across the district, the auditorium can be used for conferences, lectures, or subdivided for smaller meetings and seminars.
Co-working and breakout areas for up to 40 people are located nearby, alongside Taylor’s Oxford North café, which faces Fallaize Park.
The scheme is being delivered by Oxford North Ventures, a joint venture between Thomas White Oxford (the development arm of St John’s College), Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, and London property developer Stanhope.
Kevin Darvishi, head of leasing at Stanhope, said: “This is the latest milestone in our vision to create the UK’s leading purpose-built innovation district which caters for the whole science and technology lifecycle ecosystem.”
Oxford North already counts international law firm Mishcon de Reya among its occupiers.
The firm recently signed a five-year lease for 3,500 sq ft of office space on the first floor of The Red Hall.
Business & Technology
Thames Water customers to use water wisely after dry Spring
The company is reminding people across the Thames supply region to conserve water as spring has so far been ‘very dry’.
A spokesman for Thames Water said: “This spring has been very dry so far and it is vital that we all play our part and use water wisely through periods of dry weather.
“Our water resources are in a reasonably healthy place now, but we are constantly monitoring reservoir levels, groundwater levels, and river flows.
“We all have a role to play when it comes to saving water and we encourage everybody to play their part in conversing resources where possible.”
Thames Water supplies more than 2.6 billion litres of water each day to 10.1 million customers.
Approximately 70 per cent of that supply comes from rivers and reservoirs, with the remaining 30 per cent drawn from underground aquifers.
In April 2026, just 38 per cent of the long-term average rainfall was recorded across England, according to the Met Office.
Temperatures were also 1.1C higher than average, making it the seventh warmest April on record.
The South East was classified as a ‘seriously water stressed’ region by the Government in 2007.
Thames Water continues to monitor conditions closely and promote water efficiency to help protect against potential shortages.
Business & Technology
Indian restaurant gains five stars after previous zero food hygiene rating
An Indian restaurant in Bicester has turned its food hygiene rating around, jumping from a low zero score to a five-out-of-five ‘very good’ rating.
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