Your Impact, So Far
St Chad’s College owes its existence to the generosity of two people: Douglas Horsfall and Julia Warde-Aldam, who, in the early years of the 20th century, not only paid for our original buildings but also funded scholarships and bursaries for many St Chad’s students in this period.Here at St Chad’s, we are still passionate about being able to offer students the support – both pastoral and financial – they need to succeed. We believe that anyone with aptitude and promise should have the opportunity to become part of an academic community like St Chad’s, whatever their background. This is our heritage and our ongoing commitment.
Here’s what your help makes possible. 
Accessibility
These lovely old buildings are not easy to navigate for those with mobility issues and, in some areas, impossible for wheelchair users. Thanks to generous support from donors over this last year, we have been able to improve accessibility significantly - including making the main entrance into Chad's and its lovely Quad step free, and ensure access into our beautiful gardens.
Scholarships
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, St Chad's is proud to offer five major scholarships for prospective students to reduce the financial barriers to accessing University life, a range of bursaries for current students to enable them to participate in sport, music, theatre, volunteering and social activities that are so much a part of the fun and belonging of life at St Chad's, and meals bursaries for students who struggle to pay for nourishing food and a Student Support Fund for those in unexpected financial hardship.
Accessibility
These lovely old buildings are not easy to navigate for those with mobility issues and, in some areas, impossible for wheelchair users. Thanks to generous support from donors over this last year, we have been able to improve accessibility significantly - including making the main entrance into Chad's and its lovely Quad step free, and ensure access into our beautiful gardens.
Scholarships
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, St Chad's is proud to offer five major scholarships for prospective students to reduce the financial barriers to accessing University life, a range of bursaries for current students to enable them to participate in sport, music, theatre, volunteering and social activities that are so much a part of the fun and belonging of life at St Chad's, and meals bursaries for students who struggle to pay for nourishing food and a Student Support Fund for those in unexpected financial hardship.
Chapel
Three years ago, our beautiful old chapel was in a very poor state. Gifts from alumni, supporters and several Trusts and Foundations made it possible to replace the roof, repair the wooden cladding, and install new heating and lighting. Our chapel is now home again not only to regular services and wonderful choral music, but also to some of our schools’ outreach work, academic and cultural events and is also a popular practice space for the student bands, ensembles and music groups that flourish in Chad’s.
Gardens
Generous gifts from supporters (and lots of volunteers), have helped us develop our gardens and add significantly to the biodiversity and beauty of the Bailey. This is work we would love to sustain.
Chapel
Three years ago, our beautiful old chapel was in a very poor state. Gifts from alumni, supporters and several Trusts and Foundations made it possible to replace the roof, repair the wooden cladding, and install new heating and lighting. Our chapel is now home again not only to regular services and wonderful choral music, but also to some of our schools’ outreach work, academic and cultural events and is also a popular practice space for the student bands, ensembles and music groups that flourish in Chad’s.
Gardens
Generous gifts from supporters (and lots of volunteers), have helped us develop our gardens and add significantly to the biodiversity and beauty of the Bailey. This is work we would love to sustain.
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Tyrrell Scholarship and the Power of Legacy Giving
St Chad’s alumnus Jim Tyrrell, who died unexpectedly in June 2022 aged 60, came to the College in 1980 and graduated with a degree in French in 1984. He went on to begin a PhD at Durham before pursuing a career in business.
Jim built an impressive career in the automotive industry, beginning with Ford in 1985 and later becoming Managing Director of Colt Cars, the UK distributor for Mitsubishi Motors. He transformed the struggling business into a highly successful operation, before going on to invest in the automotive software sector and, later, become Executive Chairman of SsangYong Motor UK.
Throughout his life, Jim retained a deep affection for St Chad’s and a strong belief in the value of education. He wanted to give back to the College that had played an important role in his own life and success, and made a generous provision for St Chad’s in his will.
His legacy gift is now supporting a series of Jim Tyrrell Scholarships for Chad’s students, as well as funding for students facing unexpected financial hardship. It will also help disadvantaged students participate fully in College and University life and support St Chad’s growing Schools’ Outreach Programme.
St Chad’s Chapel Refurbishment
We were also delighted to see the completion of our chapel refurbishment. It was desperately needed. The roof leaked badly, the heating system was ancient and ineffective, and the wooden cladding needed major attention. We were thrilled that our fundraising campaign, in honour of Mark Roberts, was successful. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni, SCR, friends of the College and a number of Trusts and Foundations, we covered all the costs of this work (£217,654.50) from gifts – given for this purpose – which ranged from £5 from a recent graduate to £50,000 from a very generous Trust. We look forward to having the chapel back in operation next term – not only for worship and regular services, but also as a place for quiet reflection, music practice, and a whole range of cultural events for Chadsians and the wider community.
COVID Appeal
Through the huge generosity of our donors, our Emergency COVID Appeal launch in the Summer of 2020 exceeded £90,000 by October 2020.