The donation was made to SOFEA, a charity that helps disadvantaged young people in Oxfordshire with education, training, and mental wellbeing services.

Founded in 2014, SOFEA assists individuals aged 14 to 25 in re-engaging with learning, acquiring new skills, and working towards employment.

Between 2022 and 2023, it supported more than 500 people through its programmes in Didcot and Milton Keynes. The charity also works with FareShare UK to redistribute more than 2,000 tonnes of surplus food annually to communities battling food poverty and insecurity.

The donation from Barratt and David Wilson Homes Southern will help cover the charity’s core costs, bolstering vital functions like fundraising and marketing.

James Plunket, SOFEA’s Director of Fundraising, expressed gratitude for the unexpected donation, especially as it was nominated by a team member. He stated, “Support like this helps us continue delivering our programmes and opens up opportunities to build relationships with local organisations.”

The housebuilder’s contribution came via its Community Fund scheme, via The Barratt Redrow Foundation, which aids both national and local charities across the UK.

Campbell Gregg, the Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Southern, highlighted the importance of SOFEA’s work in empowering young people and enhancing community wellbeing.

Spirit Airlines, an upstart that shook the industry with its irreverent ads and deep discount fares, once operated hundreds of daily flights on its bright yellow planes.

The ultra-low-cost airline said it had “started an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately”.

Spirit said on its website that all flights have been cancelled and customer service is no longer available.

“We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 34 years and had hoped to serve our guests for many years to come,” the announcement said.

The company advised customers that they could expect refunds, but there would be no help in booking travel on other airlines.

The shutdown was expected after Friday came and went without a needed government bailout for the cash-strapped business.

President Donald Trump said on Friday that his administration had given the budget carrier a “final proposal” for a taxpayer-funded takeover to keep it from going under, but a deal was not reached.

Mr Trump floated the idea of a bailout last week after the airline found itself in bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in less than two years, with jet fuel prices soaring because of the Iran war.

About 17,000 jobs could be impacted by a shutdown, Spirit lawyer Marshall Huebner said.

Spirit has struggled financially since the Covid-19 pandemic, weighed down by rising operating costs and growing debt.

By the time it filed for Chapter 11 protection in November 2024, Spirit had lost more than 2.5 billion dollars since the start of 2020.

The budget carrier sought bankruptcy protection again in August 2025, when it reported having 8.1 billion dollars in debts and 8.6 billion dollars in assets, according to court filings.

Supporters of a rescue, including labour unions representing Spirit’s pilots, flight attendants and ramp workers, said a collapse would put thousands of Americans out of work and hurt consumers by reducing airline competition and increasing airfares.

Budget-conscious and leisure travellers would likely feel Spirit’s absence the most, especially in places where the airline has a big footprint, such as Las Vegas and the Florida cities of Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.

The carrier flew about 1.7 million domestic passengers in February, roughly half a million fewer than during the same month a year earlier, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Spirit also has sharply reduced its capacity, with about half as many seats available this month than in May 2024.

Neil McManus, from Drayton, was diagnosed with bladder cancer at the end of 2024.

Since turning cancer-free, the 47-year-old chose to take on the mammoth task of walking from Oxford’s Kassam Stadium to Millwall’s The Den in London.

This has been a 125-mile walk in just five days along the Thames Path, which is the equivalent of five consecutive marathons.

DONATE HERE: Neil McManus walks five marathons for charity

5 marathons. 5 days.🚶

One of our own, Neil McManus, is walking from the Kassam Stadium to Millwall for our final game, raising funds for Fight Bladder Cancer!

Donate now. ⤵️

— Oxford United (@OUFCOfficial) April 28, 2026

Neil said: “On 23 December 2024, I received news that stopped me in my tracks: I had been diagnosed with bladder cancer.

“It came as a huge shock. Like many people, I’d never really thought about bladder cancer or recognised the symptoms for what they were.

“Thankfully, it was caught early, and after successful treatment, I received a clean bill of health at my one‑year cystoscopy in January this year.

“With a bit of luck, I won’t need to see my consultant again for another 12 months.

“As I step into 2026, I want to turn that experience into something positive.

READ MORE: When Brazil legend and World Cup winner Pele held an Oxford United shirt

“I’m raising awareness and funds for Fight Bladder Cancer—an incredible charity that supports those living with the disease and works tirelessly to educate people about the signs and symptoms, so more cancers can be caught early, just like mine was.”

The Chinnor-based charity Fight Bladder Cancer provides help for patients and their loved ones, works to increase public awareness of the disease and lobbies for better research.

“[They] reached out to me when I was diagnosed,” Neil told the BBC.

“I wanted to do something for them to coincide with the end of the season. Last year, Oxford United were at Swansea, though, and I wasn’t sure if I could walk quite that far.”

Completing the walk today, Neil has managed to raise a whopping £7,769 so far from 191 donors.

The Yellows head over to the capital already relegated following results last weekend, despite a thumping 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday last time out.