The Charities Committee organises fundraising events and volunteering opportunities for members of St. Chad’s College, with an aim to support local and regional charities and promote social justice within the North-East community. The College represents a charity every year, as collectively decided by the college body, thus centralising all funds raised. This year the committee is raising money for the Bradley Lowery Foundation charity based in Sunderland who works to support and treat children suffering from cancer. The Charities Committee holds weekly meetings that are open for any members of the college to attend so please feel free to come along and get involved. There are also positions of ‘charities reps’ for freshers to run for to get more involved!

They raise money through a wide range of charity events, from the annual Hope Ball to wine tasting events, awkward formal, and the annual auctions of decs and promises. All profits of the college’s toastie bar, which opens four nights a week during term time and is run by volunteers, are also donated to the charity of the year. The committee works with various college societies and committees, as well as the senior and middle common rooms,  to ensure that events are as exciting, encompassing and effective as possible. They also organise talks from charities and raise awareness of injustices across the NE.

Volunteering opportunities fall under our Outreach Projects, which have thus far included working with Age UK, bringing together Chadsians and the elderly of Durham with regular tea parties and the Brilliant Club Scholars Program, which works with disadvantaged school children across the North of England, allowing them to visit Chads and get a taste of university life. Members of the college have also worked on an outreach project helping elderly members of the local community look after their allotments. This year, Charities Committee are working hard to extend Outreach Projects and increase opportunities for the college to get involved with various sectors and areas of the community. Many of the outreach projects are open for all members of the college community to volunteer in.