Professor Kevin Dutton, 58, from Oxford, will travel from Les Minquieres, the southernmost point of the UK, to Out Stack, the northernmost point of the British Isles.

The 1,500-mile journey will be completed by boat and rickshaw over the course of a month.

Professor Dutton said: “We want to celebrate and find ways to nurture the strengths of our young people and raise significant funds for 10 children’s mental health charities.

“Every day adults make decisions about children’s mental health – in schools, clinics, policy rooms and research labs – yet the one group rarely asked what actually helps is the children themselves.

“Children often understand their struggles, fears and resilience in ways adults overlook.

“If we want better solutions we must start with better listening – because the most powerful insights into children’s wellbeing often come from children themselves.”

He will be joined on the journey by ocean rowers Billy Taylor and Gary Hutchings, and bookseller Patrick Neale.

The team will row 700 miles and cycle 800 miles on a tandem rickshaw from Portsmouth Harbour to Scrabster in the north of Scotland.

Supporters from the worlds of sport, television, and music are backing the effort.

Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson will join the team on the first leg of the journey, rowing from Les Minquieres to Jersey.

Others supporting the mission include Countdown’s Susie Dent, former rugby player Brian Moore, snooker legends Ronnie O’Sullivan and Jimmy White, presenter Ben Sheppard, Olympic silver medallist Ed Clancy, and triathletes Alisdair and Jonny Brownlee.

The team will face waves of more than four metres high as they cross The Alderney Race.

This stretch of water is a dangerous, high-speed tidal stream between Alderney and France.

As part of the South-North Adventure, Professor Dutton is launching a petition for a National Listen to Children Day.

Among those backing the call is the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel De Souza.

Dame Rachel said: “It’s time that we listened to the views of children and acted upon what they tell us.”

Supporters can follow the team’s progress on Instagram at South-North Adventures, or through the website at www.southnorthadventures.com.

Donations can be made via South North Adventure | givestar.

The team hopes to complete the challenge in 30 days while raising awareness and funds for children’s mental health.

In 2024, Canadian investor Roy Sebag, who owns Goldmoney Properties, bought the Clarendon Centre from Lothbury Asset Management.

Since last year, the centre has been closed with retailers including TK Maxx moving to the Westgate shopping centre or other locations.

Now GP (Goldmoney Properties) Clarendon Square Ltd has submitted a planning application to the city council to renovate the centre featuring a new square.

Oxford residents have been submitting comments to Oxford City Council with their thoughts on the plans.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire country pub told ‘major improvement necessary’

How the new square could look at the Clarendon Centre (Image: GP Clarendon Square Ltd)

Nicky Warren, of Marlborough Road, Oxford, said: “There has been a lot of interest in a city centre playground for children as provision is currently very limited.

“The courtyard would seem an ideal area for a space for young children to play.”

Mari Prichard, of Farndon Road, North Oxford, said: “A lot of the application seems reasonable.

“But what Oxford city centre needs to be the vibrant place it claims to support are more year-round residents.

“The Gloucester Green flats were, I think, the last example, though rumour has it that many are now Airbnb.

“I and other locals had hoped that this application would include upper level, probably rented, flats targeted at moderate income local workers as appropriate, but anyhow on terms that would avoid their exploiting the flats by not living there.”

Oxford city councillor Susanna Pressel has previously welcomed the latest plans.

She said: “Now that the planning application has been submitted and published, we can all see what the new Clarendon Centre will look like if it gets permission.

“I think it will be a worthy addition to our city centre, and a great improvement on what was there before. I can’t wait for it to be completed.”

Ms Pressel said earlier that the new development, featuring the square, would be a “stunning addition to the city centre”.

She added: “Every college has internal quads which are lovely green and peaceful places, but they are not accessible to most of us. Bonn Square is attractive, but it’s not enough.

“This development would provide a very welcome peaceful green space, open to all. As we walk along Cornmarket Street and Queen Street, we would have a glimpse of beautiful trees and benches to tempt us in, with new open ‘streets’ to lead us there.

“The developers are even planning a water feature in the central square, which would surely be a great draw. They talk about how this would give ‘a sense of tranquillity’.”

The new square is expected to reduce the amount of space available for retail units. Some research and development hubs are expected to feature alongside retail units.

The man, in his 50s, was reported as being injured at The Slade just before 1pm on Saturday (April 11).

Thames Valley Police confirmed he was taken to hospital and that a 48-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident.

Nigel Savill, aged 48, of The Slade, Oxford, has now been charged with one count of section 20 grievous bodily harm without intent.

He is due at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

READ MORE: Garden waste collections pocket Oxfordshire council millions

Arrest in Wood Farm (Image: Contributed)

An eyewitness said they spotted around seven police cars, one critical care unit and an ambulance in the area near the junction with Wood Farm Road.

Photos from the scene show multiple emergency vehicles and someone being put into a police car.

Police said on Saturday afternoon that a scene watch was in place while investigations continue and they have appealed to the public for information which may assist them.

A police spokesman previously said: “The force was contacted by the ambulance service at 12.55pm to report a man with injuries in The Slade.

“The man in his 50s has been taken to hospital.

“A 48-year-old man from Oxford has been arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently in police custody.

“If anyone has any information or footage from the area and has not already spoken to the force then please speak to an officer at the scene, call 101, or leave any information via our website, quoting the investigation reference number 43260175531.”