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A view outside the Palatine Centre

Our annual telephone appeal with a difference.

20 May 2025
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Images of Hild Bede, St Marys and Van Mildert on a banner

Our annual telephone appeal runs each year to raise essential funds to enable our students to embrace their university experience. The funds raised provide essential support, bursaries and employability grants for students needing financial help. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and friends we can ensure that all students, irrespective of background or circumstances, can realise their potential.

Supporting our Colleges

For the first time, the 2025 survey included specific campaigns from three of our colleges, each with its own distinct campaign objectives.

Teams of student callers were recruited from the three colleges and the combined campaign was designed with clear objectives in mind; two of the colleges are in milestone years and the third is undergoing a period of change. Teams of students were recruited to call alumni with scripts detailing the positive impact of any donations, and soon found themselves sharing their own Durham stories and tales of how the Colleges continue to make a positive difference to the lives of their students. Plans for the future were discussed, and lots of common ground was found.

The three colleges were:

College of St Hild and St Bede

The College is in a period of unprecedented change, challenge and opportunity. Students have been relocated to Rushford Court to enable work to take place to restore, refurbish and redevelop the College.

The College is committed to ensuring all students have the best possible experience. Funds collected by the telephone campaign will help to establish continuity of support for these students and enable them to access a full range of activities during this period of change.     

“Had a great conversation with [ ] about his time in Hild Bede as treasurer for the boat club and his time on the old site, I mentioned how I would like to do a law conversion course and he gave me his LinkedIn and said he could help with career advice and internships” Daniel Rayner, student caller.

St Mary’s College

Currently celebrating its 125th year since opening as the University’s first all-female college, before welcoming its first male students in 2003. All funds raised by the telephone campaign will support the St Mary’s Trust Development Fund. The Fund is divided into two areas:

  • supporting students as they transition from undergraduate to postgraduate study; St Marys is keen to support students from lower income households and encourage them to remain at Durham, and St Marys, for postgraduate studies by supporting them through additional bursaries.
  • updating the student facilities; delivering a range of activities to enrich students’ experience often depends on the quality of the facilities. The St Mary’s development plan aims to refurbish and reuse space in college to support these activities. Some of the facilities including the college bar and toilets have already been refurbished. The plan is to continue by refurbishing the music rooms and adding studio facilities to support dance, drama and yoga.

“[ ] was a recipient of the hardship fund herself, which really set the tone of the conversation. We had a phenomenal chat about her work in the criminal justice system- she’s worked in multiple departments at all stages in a criminal's life which gave her a very piercing and insightful view.” Leo Orr, student caller.

Van Mildert College

The campaign is part of the celebrations to mark the College 60th anniversary, and the proceeds will further support the four jubilee projects identified as part of the celebrations. All four projects share the aim of creating a sense of belonging, regardless of background or financial situation. They are:

  • To increase financial support for students to remove barriers to full participation in the student experience.
  • To develop a new common room for studying and socialising.
  • To improve the performance space in our Ann Dobson Hall.
  • To rebuild our boat house, which was destroyed in a fire in 2021.

“Oh my gosh she was literally the nicest person ever. Absolutely Hilarious, we had a great chat, great laugh and I got some wonderful career advice.” Milli Hargreaves, student caller.

Connections made

The campaign calls have been a fantastic opportunity for student callers to gain valuable advice and inspiration for the future. The insight and career advice alumni can offer students today is invaluable and greatly appreciated, and positive experiences have been shared.

I was truly impressed by the range and depth of your knowledge, and the ease with which you communicated. It was wonderful to find that we had much in common especially given the 45-year age gap and I finished the conversation feeling so positive and hopeful especially at a time when the world order has been well and truly upended. Knowing that there are thoughtful and intelligent people like you coming through St Mary's and Durham, gives me great joy and optimism.
St Mary's College alumna
Durham University

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