Oxford Street Shines Spotlight on Nation’s Heroes

• This Christmas, Oxford Street has launched a campaign dedicated to the heroes of 2020 as it teams up with London’s iconic department store, Selfridges to showcase a special new light’s display ‘To London with Love’
• Members of the public can nominate their 2020 Hero for a chance to see their name in the iconic world-famous lighting display
• The first hero’s name in lights has been announced as an NHS Volunteer Responder

Oxford Street’s world-renowned Christmas lights this year shine the light quite literally on the nation’s heroes as a mark of gratitude and a platform to celebrate the incredible acts of support and kindness that have been seen up and down the country throughout the pandemic.

Members of the public are invited to visit the Oxford Street website to nominate their 2020 Hero for a chance to see their hero’s name appear on the iconic Oxford Circus gateways and win a £500 shopping spree. Each week will see a new name adorn Oxford Circus for a full seven days.

On Monday 2nd November, Oxford Street officially illuminated the Capital, with the first name in lights an NHS Volunteer Responder, nominated by Royal Voluntary Service. NHS Volunteer Responders was set up at the start of the pandemic to complement the work done by NHS and social care staff in supporting those most at risk from the virus. The Responders include Community Response Volunteers who assist with food shopping and prescription collection for those shielding or self-isolating, Check-in and Chat Volunteers providing supportive phone calls to combat loneliness, and Patient Transport Volunteers ensuring people can get to medical appointments – all of whom have helped support the nation through the pandemic.

Luciana Magliocco, Associate Director at New West End Company says: “Whether it has been shopping for a neighbour in isolation, volunteering at a local business or fundraising for the NHS, we know that in such difficult times, there have been incredible acts of kindness. This year, we are delighted to be able to offer a platform to showcase the nation’s 2020 heroes for all to see this Christmas, starting with an NHS Volunteer Responder.”

Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service says “The way our NHS Volunteer Responders have stepped forward to help their communities and the NHS is nothing short of phenomenal. Royal Voluntary Service is incredibly proud to be delivering the NHS Responders scheme which has seen thousands of volunteers give up their own time to support the most vulnerable members of society and in doing so, ensuring people are kept safe during the pandemic. So far, 53,950 on-duty volunteers in London have supported people in need with 179,600 tasks. It’s hard to find the words to thank people enough for that, but having the opportunity to recognise one of our volunteers is absolutely fantastic. While it’s one name up in lights, in my eyes all of our NHS Volunteer Responders are COVID heroes and I can’t thank them enough.”

Oxford Street is world-renowned for being one of the Christmas shopping destinations and this year, the lights were on display from the start of November to give visitors even more time to make the most of the festive season and enjoy the West End’s magical offering. Whilst there, visitors will be able to enjoy a safe experience as brands across the destination put heightened hygiene measures in place including queuing measures & capacity limits, extensive social distancing measures marked clearly throughout the stores, hand sanitiser dispensers at every entry and throughout larger stores, screens at various till points, and card only payments where possible.

To nominate your 2020 hero and for full T&Cs, please visit www.oxfordstreet.co.uk/christmaslights2020

Stay updated and join the conversation @oxfordstreetW1