Latest news with #BBCRadioOxford
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Secure hospital detention 'scarred' autistic woman
A woman with autism who was repeatedly detained in secure hospitals as a teenager has said proposed changes to a mental health law do not go far enough. Lucy Bowerman, from Witney, Oxfordshire, said being sectioned at 12 years old, before being diagnosed with autism, left her mentally "scarred". She is part of a campaign that has called for an end to the detention of people with autism or learning difficulties. The Department for Health and Social care said its "proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act [would] ensure people get the support they need in the community". Miss Bowerman told BBC Radio Oxford's Sophie Law she was first sectioned after suffering from "autistic burnout" and attempting to take her own life. "I had a feeling they saw that as depression at the time, whereas we realise now that I was just very, very deep into autistic burnout and struggling to cope," she said. "[Secure hospitals] weren't very pleasant places to be. I was only 12 and most of the other patients were 15 or 16 plus. "That was quite scary being surrounded by some very, very unwell people at such a young age." Miss Bowerman is co-chair of Oxfordshire charity My Life My Choice, which is run by people with learning disabilities. The group took part in a protest in Westminster in April against proposed changes in the government's Mental Health Bill. The government wants to change the law so that disabled and autistic people cannot be detained under the act in most circumstances, unless they have a co-occurring mental health disorder. Miss Bowerman said the changes do not go far enough and more support should be available in the community so people can live in "good homes". She said: "The reason I'm involved... is partly to get justice for my younger self, who shouldn't have been put through what I was put through. "But most importantly, for the people who are still locked up in these places because this should not be happening in this day and age." In December the BBC reported that the current wait for people seeking a diagnosis for autism in Oxfordshire is 18 years. Miss Bowerman said: "If we're unable to effectively diagnose people and support them, there are going to be more people ending up in burnout... and ending up in these institutions." A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "The number of autistic people and people with a learning disability in mental health hospitals is unacceptable. "Through our proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act, we will ensure people get the support they need in the community, closer to home, improving care and keeping people out of hospitals. "We welcome stakeholders' contributions, including through the public consultation, and will engage further as the bill progresses through Parliament." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Mental health law 'won't stop detentions'
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
🎧 Swansea draw 'a microcosm' of Oxford's season
"It was almost like the season in a microcosm because it was much better than you expected, entertaining to the last, but I think I'd go further than that and talk about how vibrant it was, how the atmosphere was brilliant."It was an advert for what you want the Championship to be. The one thing it didn't have was the nail-biting, stomach-crushing pressure of some of the previous weeks."BBC Radio Oxford's Jerome Sale shares his thoughts on the 3-3 draw at Swansea on the final joins BBC's Robyn Cowen, former U's defender Ben Purkiss and supporter and podcaster George Elek on the latest episode of The Dub reflect on Oxford's final week of the season, staying in the Championship and what might happen in the summer transfer window. Listen to the full episode of The Dub podcast on BBC Sounds.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oxford 'deserve' a new stadium
Oxford United chief executive Tim Williams has doubled down on his stance that the club needs a new ground after retaining their Championship status. The lease on the Kassam Stadium expires in June 2026 and the club is still awaiting a decision from planners about a proposed new 16,000-seater venue, which is expected this summer. Advertisement In April Williams said that without a new stadium, there would be no Oxford United, and that there was "nothing more important". "Staying up is why we need a new stadium," he told BBC Radio Oxford. "If people had any doubts, then Saturday showed why it is needed. "Up or down it doesn't matter, Oxfordshire needs a football club with its own stadium in the heart of the county and that is the most important thing. We're a Championship club for the second season and we deserve a Championship stadium. "We've been through some tough times this season and we made some very difficult decisions on the way. "But we've done it for the right reasons and they are that we stay in the league for another year. It's an extraordinary and brilliant achievement."
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Oxford 'deserve' a new stadium
Oxford United chief executive Tim Williams has doubled down on his stance that the club needs a new ground after retaining their Championship lease on the Kassam Stadium expires in June 2026 and the club is still awaiting a decision from planners about a proposed new 16,000-seater venue, which is expected this April Williams said that without a new stadium, there would be no Oxford United, and that there was "nothing more important"."Staying up is why we need a new stadium," he told BBC Radio Oxford. "If people had any doubts, then Saturday showed why it is needed."Up or down it doesn't matter, Oxfordshire needs a football club with its own stadium in the heart of the county and that is the most important thing. We're a Championship club for the second season and we deserve a Championship stadium."We've been through some tough times this season and we made some very difficult decisions on the way."But we've done it for the right reasons and they are that we stay in the league for another year. It's an extraordinary and brilliant achievement."
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Terrible' artwork to feature in Oxford hospice art campaign
An artist who has become famous for his "terrible paintings" will be featured in a charity art campaign raising money to train end-of-life Lee Matthias, who went viral after presenting an artwork to his wife on their wedding day, has painted a portrait of BBC Radio Oxford presenter Sophie Law that will be featured in Sobell House Hospice's exhibition My Lovely project received submissions from more than 600 artists, including exhibition of the mini masterpieces will take place this weekend at The Cloister Gallery at St John the Evangelist Church in Oxford. Presenter Law received her portrait via the charity's fundraising director Beth Marsh, while Mr Matthias joined the show on the said he had "caught her best side"."You've caught the very witchy-looking hair I get this time of the morning when you get up," she picture was modelled on a photo she had taken with Tony, an ox created for BBC Radio Oxford by Oxfordshire-based yarn-bomber artwork was sold for £2,800 at auction for the hospice in September."I've never seen a portrait of myself quite like that before," Law Matthias said he received multiple orders for his art from "all over the world" since going viral."They send such lovely messages about the joy and the laughter that it brings," he said."We advertise it as 'terrible', I know my ability in art and it's not very good." The project is in aid of Beth's Bursary Fund, which supports palliative care nurses with training and was set up by the family of Beth Foreman, who died aged 32 in 2016 and was cared for by Sobell House project has featured original pieces by celebrities including Dame Judy Dench, Mel Giedroyc and Mark postcards will be available through Sobell House's online auction between 1-25 May. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
