The Magdalen College Trust

The College's Own Charity

This small home-grown organisation aims to encourage current College Members in their support of charitable causes - with an emphasis on deprivation and youth. It was founded by concerned undergraduates and former members of the College and has been supported by Magdalen students, past and present, for more than 80 years. It is overseen by Trustees, and by a Committee comprising senior members, former members, and both current graduates and undergraduates.

A strong preference is given to projects in which current students participate. In addition a donation is usually made to Oxford House, Bethnal Green, an East London Youth Club, which has much the same purposes as the Charity had in its early years. From 1920 onwards the Trust supported the Magdalen Mission in Somers Town, near Euston, a grossly overcrowded slum area. Father Basil Jellicoe (Magd. 1916-17, 1919-21), the Missioner from 1922-27, was the key figure in a major housing improvement scheme there (see entries in the Magdalen College Record 1994 and 2004).

Each year the Trust spends about £6,000 on projects. This money comes partly from income on the capital accumulated from donations and subscriptions by former members, which has been saved and invested over many years, and partly from current JCR, MCR and SCR subscriptions.

In recent years, the Trust has made grants to the following organisations, among others:
    • The Karen Hilltribes Trust: providing school transport for isolated Thai tribes people
    • Magdalen and Oxford Young Carers
    • Eye Camp India, supporting volunteer UK doctors who provide free cataract operations
    • Ugunja Community Resource Centre, Ugunja, Kenya
    • The OxHub, providing routes to charitable involvement by students in the UK
    • The Porch Steppin' Stone Centre: homeless care in East Oxford
    • Moroccan Children's Trust: volunteer support running schools in Morocco
    • Under Trees Schools, education for girls in The Sudan
    • Oxford Aid to the Balkans: setting up and running youth centres
    • Helen and Douglas House: respite care for children and young people with life-shortening conditions, Oxford
    • Orphans Against AIDS, helping to educate children orphaned by AIDS in China

Students and Fellows make a small annual subscription to the Trust unless they decide to opt out. The great majority of Magdalen people have contributed to this worthwhile enterprise in the past, and we hope that you will follow them by not opting out. Any College member can learn more about the Trust, and influence its policy making, by attending the Annual General Meeting. This is usually held on a Saturday morning in early May and will be advertised a week or two in advance.

Any College member who is actively involved in some charitable project is welcome to contact the Trust, which may be able to help with funds. Please write to the Chairman of the Executive Committee, Dr J.S.T. Garfitt, or the Trust Secretary, Dr Robert Gilbert. Should you wish to make a donation to the Trust, of any size, you can do this by filling in the Bankers Order and Gift Aid Form (PDF). It will be greatly appreciated, and will be well used.