What inspired you to start giving regular donations to Linacre?
It was when I started working full time that I felt in a financial position to start giving back to Linacre. The College was always very generous to me as a student. As a smaller community, Linacre was welcoming and everyone was generous with their time and support. I have always liked the egalitarian ethos of the College and am aware that the students come from a diversity of backgrounds, so I knew that financial assistance was important.
Have you been able to specify where your donations are directed at Linacre?
Yes, I have been able to specify that my monthly donations go to the Linacre Hardship Fund.
Why is it important to you to give towards hardship?
I come from a non-traditional Oxbridge background and I would not have been able to attend Linacre without a scholarship. So if anyone is struggling due to finances, I hope that my donations can contribute to helping them in a small but meaningful way.
What impact did access to a scholarship mean for your studies?
It was everything. We couldn’t afford to pay the fees without it. It also took a huge amount of pressure off of me psychologically. Doing advanced research at Oxford is hard enough without the constant worry of money.
What do you feel you get back from giving to Linacre?
At a time when there is a lot of isolation in society, it is great to maintain a long-term relationship with a like-minded community of people. Linacre has probably been one of the most important institutional relationships in my life. I enjoy coming to alumni and donor events and I have always liked the international nature of the College. It is just so interesting meeting people from different cultures and sharing ideas and experiences.
What are your fondest memories of life at Linacre?
We used to exchange dinners with other colleges and one winter’s evening, we went for dinner at Corpus Christi. It was cold outside and when we left, hours later, snow had settled on the beautiful old Oxford buildings. It was a magical surprise, like a scene from Harry Potter! I also used to play darts at Linacre and we re-established the College darts team. Another fond memory is winning the first doubles competition for Linacre after the society had been re-established.
Learn about how you can support Linacre by becoming a member of our Regular Giving Circle here.
