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Annual Report 2025/26

Principal's welcome I'm delighted to share Collingwood College's annual report for 2025/26. It showcases the incredibly broad range and depth of student achievements that are truly extraordinary. Collingwood's dominance in sport continues finishing top of the intercollegiate table by over 1,000 points winning six floodlits and 10 leagues that highlights the fantastic prowess the college possesses across a wide range of sport. It has been a real joy to cheer on our teams rain or shine and we've had to acquire a much larger trophy cabinet now prominently displayed at the college entrance! We will be creating a new display within the Stag's Head to commemorate every time our college has won the intercollegiate table to give this pride of place. Our 23 student societies with more than 600 student members held over 100 events in a very active year. I've been amazed at the talent in our dancers, media team, musicians and much more enjoying performances nearly every week. College outreach and community engagement has been a special joy seeing so many terrific projects flourishing and bringing the wider community into Collingwood. Northern Lights A Cappella (with five Collingwood singers) won the UK final of the international championship of collegiate a cappella for the fourth year in a row and came second best in the world at the finals in New York City. Another highlight was our Christmas singalong with Burnside Academy with turning circle lights switch on and our first Christmas market with over 250 students coming together. And, of course, Collingwood Day was another day to remember with 1,350 coming together in the largest college day at the university (and where I couldn't help taking the stage with my guitar). Our students are incredibly fortunate to have such huge support from our devoted and generous alumni. The undergraduate research internships made impossible possible for nearly 30 students across all faculties. Changemakers NE was a big success making a positive impact on our local community and the student opportunities funding supported over 50 Collingwood students opening doors, creating opportunities and making a life transforming difference to every individual. When I asked principals past and present at Durham or elsewhere what they thought of being a principal, I always got the same reply: they were never busier, but never happier. Over the course of my first year as Principal at Collingwood, it has been among the busiest I've known, but the most inspirational. Our students and alumni never cease to amaze me by their achievements and it is an immense privilege to serve such a vibrant community where to 'love the best' isn't just a slogan, but a way of life. I hope you enjoy this annual report which we will produce each year showcasing the college's activities and I look forward to the new year ahead. Professor Thom Brooks Principal, Collingwood College & Chair in Law, Ethics and Government, Durham Law School

JCR President 2025/26 It has been a fabulous year for the Junior Common Room (JCR) this year, and it has been a pleasure to lead it! The Executive team have worked incredibly hard to keep the JCR running this year and have also been at the forefront of improving the JCR, and have left the JCR in a better place. The year started in September, where the JCR welcomed over 600 students in Freshers’ Week. This week was full of activities, ranging from club nights, an impressive opening ceremony, and my personal favourite of cowboy hat decorating, along with some questionable TikToks throughout the week. A massive thank you to the frep and tech team who orchestrated Freshers’ Week, your willingness and kindness to welcome the newest members of Collingwood is invaluable. Throughout the year the JCR organised many formals, ranging from Comic Book Superheroes to a neon themed formal - with lasers and haze! The Winter and Spring Megaformals were also great successes with mini golf in the theatre being my personal favourite! The JCR Committees have grown from strength to strength this year, The Welfare Committee has expanded and ran many successful campaign weeks alongside an array of welfare activities. The Media Committee has also grown in size and developed its online presence further. The Tech Committee has helped to run a vast amount of events and has done so impressively, with the Beatles Fundraising night in November being particularly special. Collingwood’s Sports Teams have grown from strength to strength this year, with the College Sports Trophy coming home for the 15th year - this achievement was rewarded with a bigger trophy cabinet in reception! In November we held Collingwood’s first Sports Alumni Weekend, and in May the largest ever Sports Ball was held at Rainton Arena to celebrate all of the sporting successes.

Collingwood’s Societies have flourished this year, with old societies being revived and new ones being created like Creative Writing. There were some impressive showcases, with Woodplayers' Catch Me If You Can, CCMS’s annual Collingwood Proms, and CCDS showcases all being particularly impressive. The year ended with a celebration of societies and committees at the largest societies dinner in recent years! Summer term saw the completion of the Turning Circle mural, which has injected some colour by bringing the North East sea to Collingwood’s footsteps. Summer Ball saw over 1,000 students head to Hardwick Hotel and Collingwood Day was a favourite amongst many, with ABBA closing the evening. Collingwood College Fashion Show was particularly impressive this year, and their fundraising efforts managed to raise over £67,000 in show revenue. As my year ends I want to give an extended thank you to everyone who has assisted with running the JCR this year, whether that is captaining your football team or getting involved with the events committee, your help has been crucial and is at the core of ensuring the JCR can run. It is a pleasure to see so many students give back to the JCR and ensure that incoming students are welcomed to the community.

A note from incoming JCR President Collingwood is an incredibly special place. Many of us woodfolk see it as a second home, and its people a family. The JCR is integral to curating that experience. Through sports, societies and associations, our students learn and grow together, experiencing new things and meeting new people that will stay with them throughout their university years and beyond. One of my predecessors once told me that if a student graduates university with just a degree, then they haven’t experienced Durham University correctly, and I couldn’t agree more. These words have pushed me to try new things throughout my university career. I’ve joined the Dance Society, tried rowing (even if I wasn’t very good at it!), gotten involved with the Tech Crew, been a Frep, and sat on the Executive Committee since my first year, serving as Senior Frep, Tech Manager and JCR Secretary before finally running for President as I finished my Master’s Degree. All of these experiences have reinforced how special the Collingwood experience is and how important our community is to its running. As President, I aim to continue to foster our community this year. On open days we say that Collingwood is led by its students, and that couldn’t be more true. I aim to support our JCR Exec in the projects that matter to them and to our students, and promote more engagement with our JCR and all it has to offer. I love Collingwood and have made so many wonderful friends and memories in my time here, and I hope I can help other students feel at home here too. Please do pop me an email or drop into my office for a chat, whether you’re just saying hello or have a vision for our JCR that you’d like to bring to life! Ana Stinson JCR President 2026/27

Mark Hillery Recording Studio report This year has been an exciting one for the music at Collingwood, with involvement taking off tremendously. We’ve had nearly 200 students regularly using the practice rooms and very successful intakes in both studio society and the college’s music society. In studio society this year, we’ve had around 20 students learning how to use the studio and undertaking their own projects, including a one-man cover of “I’m just Ken” and recording many of Durham’s student bands. They’ve been learning how to use ProTools and work well together in the studio. They’ve also helped out on several outreach projects this year, including writing and recording a song with local primary school children.

This year, I’ve also enjoyed conducting Collingwood’s orchestra. The orchestra has really thrived this year, our final concert this year saw nearly 30 musicians participating, performing music from Kung Fu Panda and Les Miserables. In second term, I recorded and filmed the orchestra in the studio and created this video to showcase all the hard work from CCMS this year! Please click here or scan the QR code on the right to watch the video. Next year I hope the music society and orchestra continue to thrive under new leadership, and I look forward to welcoming new faces into the studio as we line up some exciting workshops for the next year! We’ll be hosting a workshop for Durham Jazz Festival and we have some workshops in which students get to try out some fun synthesisers in the works too! Leah Fraser Venue Manager, 2023-Present

Mark Hillery Arts Centre report When beginning my year as Venue Manager of Collingwood's Arts Centre, I knew that I would be in for a busy year of facilitating our thriving performing arts scene. After having thrown myself into as many theatrical and musical performances as possible during my time as a Collingwood student, I was keen to be able to provide the opportunity for as many students as possible to explore their potential in the world of events - both behind the scenes; as producers, directors, stage crew, and technical directors, and on stage; as actors, singers, musicians, and dancers. I believe it is important for students to be able to access theatre at any level – whether they have been performing all their life, or whether they have never been on stage and fancy learning a performance with a beginner dance class or putting together a song to sing with their friends in their first ever performance. Our events calendar this year has reflected this, with bookings by our own Collingwood music and dance societies, where students are welcome to perform pieces they have prepared themselves, and also with bookings from the wider Durham performing arts scene, with students from across Durham University delivering spellbinding performances. The theatre would be nothing without the diligent work of our student technicians. These are a team of Collingwood students with a range of technical experience – some having never touched a lighting or sound desk before this academic year. This year as a tech team we have facilitated: 15 formal dinner occasions, 11 open mic nights in Collingwood's bar the Stag's Head, 23 separate theatrical events, and 16 other events in the theatre – from workshops to rehearsals and social events. An early highlight of the academic year was Beatles Night Durham. This was an event arranged by a band of Durham University students, with the aim of transporting audiences on a journey through the catalogue of Beatles music, all performed live with relevant orchestral accompaniments and backing singers. This was the first chance of the year for our Collingwood student technical crew to utilise as much of our array of impressive lighting, visual, and sound

eq uip m ent as p ossib le. It w as a p leasure t o b e ab le t o facilit at e such a p assion p roject for t hese p erform ers w hich p rovid ed a w ond erful p erform ance op p ort unit y for b ot h Colling w ood st ud ent s, and ind eed st ud ent s from across Durham Universit y. The event w as a hug e success, selling out all of it s 120 seat s for b ot h of it s show s, and raising over £80 0 of p rofit for charit y. I w as hap py t o see st ud ent s exp erim ent ing w it h a rang e of creat ive st ag ing layout s t his year. We had Colling w ood ’s t heat re g roup Wood p layers p erform a p rod uct ion of A nim al Farm using t raverse st ag ing , and t hen having t heir annual m usical st ag ed in t he round – b ot h receiving 5-st ar review s from t he Palat inat e st ud ent new sp ap er. Their m usical – Cat ch Me If You Can – w as a p art icular hig hlig ht , w it h an am b it ious sound set up using around a d ozen sp eakers in surround sound , and an im p ressive lig ht ing rig w it h an oct ag onal sect ion of t russ hang ing b eneat h t he lig ht ing rig w it h a circle of lig ht s p rovid ing a w ond erful cent rep iece t o t he st ag e.

6 In June, we facilitated another new event when we screened the student-made film “Silver Springs”, written by Matthew Lo, and created with the help of Woodplayers and the media committee. This told the story of the band members of Fleetwood Mac. Before the screening, we enjoyed a performance from Collingwood band Krumplezone of some of Fleetwood Mac’s hits (amongst other artists). Another shining moment of the year was facilitating the only use of entertainment lasers within the university. This required tiresome nights drafting up new health and safety documents for university staff. Once the paperwork was complete, we used the lasers to form a false ceiling of moving laser light above the heads of attendees at our Neon Formal Dinner. It was a spectacular sight.

Reflecting on my year as Venue Manager, I can certainly say it has been a busy one. That being said, I know I have developed immensely in the role, growing both in my technical ability and knowledge, as well as growing in self-confidence. There is a colossal amount of knowledge I know now that I didn’t know before beginning the role. There have been a few hectic periods, but they were worth it to see the fabulous end products of students’ creative visions. I am proud of what has been achieved this year by the hard work of our student tech crew and college staff. I know that I will be returning to Collingwood as often as possible in the future to say hi to those I know, and perhaps to watch a show for once instead of facilitating it. Carl Murta Venue Manager 2025/26

Alongside Collingwood’s own events, the Arts Centre has provided a space for groups from across the University including DULOG, The Durham Revue, Fourth Wall Theatre Company, Walkabout Productions, Durham University Classical Theatre, and Fullscore. The Arts Centre also joined the Assembly Rooms Theatre and the Mount Oswald Hub in hosting Durham Drama Festival 2026, showcasing 3 entirely student-written plays. We have also opened the doors to the wider community this year, providing a space for some Christmas carols by the local Burnside Primary School, facilitating a performance by a local dance charity, and holding a junior science event. As part of our tech team, we provide 2 Collingwood students with a bursary to take on additional responsibilities. Aniket Garg, an enthusiastic first year student took on the role of Venue Support Technician, whilst Val Devereux became our Hires Manager. They have both worked very hard in their roles and it was a pleasure seeing them both grow in confidence throughout the year. I am particularly proud of our ability to hire our equipment out at an affordable rate for university groups, and in turn providing many extra opportunities for students that may not otherwise happen.

A note from incoming Venue Manager I'm Will, the new Venue Manager for the Mark Hillery Arts Centre! I am a Geography BSc graduate from Van Mildert, now firmly a part of Collingwood. I applied for the role as I spent all of my spare time playing music and organising events, from Durham's prestigious clubs to Castle's Great Hall and beyond. This year, we hope to maintain the many events that will take place in the Theatre, as we already have a busy schedule from Freshers' Week to Collingwood Society events and Durham Student Theatre productions. My aims for the year are to diversify and expand the scope of performance genres and maintain the high-quality performances that the Arts Centre is known for! Will Mawer Venue Manager, 2026/27

The year in societies and committees A note from our Societies Officer 2025/26 This year was the biggest year for societies and committees in Collingwood, with the largest number of sign-ups during Freshers’ Week, the formation of one new society and the reboot of two more, the introduction of the Societies Spotlight and ‘JCR Exec Tries…’ videos, and our biggest ever awards dinner to round off the year. The successes can be summed up quite succinctly through the numbers: 600+ participants, 700+ sessions and 114 events across all societies and committees this year. Whilst there have been a wide range of student groups active over the past few years, they haven’t always had the loudspeaker our incredible sports teams have. So, the Societies Spotlight and ‘JCR Exec Tries…’ videos have to be the biggest achievement this year. They have put our 23 groups at the forefront of the College JCR’s social media, boosting awareness and showing other students that it’s okay to try something new, as you never know what you might learn. Promoting our amazing societies and committees has also led to more people talking about them, bigger sign-ups and our largest ever Societies & Committees Awards Dinner. It has been an absolute privilege being Societies Officer this year. From mentoring presidents to help them grow their societies, to attending sessions and watching incredible performances, I’ve learnt so much about all the opportunities different societies and committees offer. But what meant the most to me was being able to connect with people across College and understand how to help them better their own, and future students’, Collingwood experience.

Click here or scan the QR code above to watch the Societies Spotlight series.

Dance Society (CCDS) This year has been a fantastic year for CCDS! We have put on two shows, with record audiences joining us to enjoy dance across a range of styles, from ballet and tap to jazz and contemporary, all performed by Collingwood students ranging from seasoned dancers to complete newcomers. In Michaelmas, we performed Once Upon A Time: Storytelling Through Dance, exploring our favourite fairytales, myths and stories through dance. The showcase attracted our biggest audience in the last four years. It was amazing for a Michaelmas show with so many new Fresher members to see such huge support, and we all had a lot of fun reliving our childhoods dancing to lots of Disney! In Epiphany, we performed Seasons, which focused on dances themed around different seasons of the year and seasons of life. Across the year, we have offered classes three nights a week in a range of styles including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical and commercial. We’ve also celebrated our friendship with socials and other fun get-togethers! CCDS is a place where community and creativity come together. Dancing as part of the society has always made me feel like part of a family, and to see the way the rest of the College community turns out to support us is always wonderful. It’s a joy to bring dance into the lives of students in Collingwood and see dancers grow and flourish in the society over their time at Durham! Sarah Johnston President, 2025/26

Media Committee Our committee has more than doubled in size this year, bringing together many eager creatives from all year groups. Media has become more involved in the College and has gained a wonderful community within itself. Our photographers are at every College event, taking photos and giving them to the JCR and other societies for free. We’ve also had a lot of involvement with CCMS through Stag’s Open Mic Nights and other performances, and we were at many Varsity and intercollegiate sports games taking photos. We collaborated with Woodplayers to produce the short film ‘Silver Springs’, selling over 50 tickets on the night of the showing. Outside of College, we also collaborated with Durham Student Film to produce a short film called ‘The Echo’, which will be entered into film festivals. Completing our first films in collaboration with Woodplayers and DSF has been one of our proudest achievements this year. Throughout the year, we’ve consistently brought in hires from other colleges, individuals and theatre companies, allowing us to fund the purchase of brand new equipment that we can use to grow the committee and develop the skills of our members. We have also been incredibly proud of the commitment and improvement of our new members. It’s been amazing to see the skill development of all our new members, technically and creatively, as well as the sense of committee and team that has come with the growing society. The Media Suite has become a fun and safe space for many people, and Yi Yang, our Media Officer, and I couldn’t be happier with the current state of the committee. Niamh Cattanach Head of Photography, 2025/26

Collingwood College Music Society To say this year has been a big one for Collingwood Music would be an understatement. We have had probably the most action-packed year on record! Collingwood Music has reached new highs, and we have consistently set the standard for a welcoming, inclusive, fun and driven community of musicians and people. Collingwood Voices, led by Ethan, Sophie and Maddie, have continuously been pushing the bar for music. We have tackled a wide range of genres this year, from musical theatre to contemporary to traditional and more. Through performing at outreach events, the Invitational Formal and concerts, as well as recording in the studio, Voices have had an exceptional year. This culminated in Collingwood Proms ’26, where Voices was the biggest it has ever been. A particular highlight was performing One Day More with both Voices and Orchestra. Collingwood Orchestra, led by Leah Fraser, our Studio Manager, has also had a monumental year, with the most consistent numbers we have had post-Covid. As we have opened it up to all colleges, numbers have soared. We have performed movie soundtracks, classical overtures and contemporary pieces, while pushing our limits with the quality of performance. Big highlights included How to Train Your Dragon, performed with the movie, La La Land, our most challenging piece, which we also recorded in the studio, and Collingwood Proms. Outreach this year has been at its most ambitious and exciting, with four projects carried out. Carolling and singing at St Cuthbert’s Hospice in Michaelmas and Epiphany term will always be dear to us, and we hope to continue this relationship with the staff and residents. Our two teaching projects were a delight. Teaching and recording music with Belmont Primary and Burnside Academy have been big highlights, and seeing the children express their joy for music is a privilege we will always cherish. Our Epiphany project was a first for Collingwood, writing and recording a song for Burnside Academy.

Seeing the children recognise their ideas and take in the song as their own was an experience we will never forget. Winning Best Outreach at the Societies Formal was another proud moment for us. We have had 10 Open Mic Nights this year, some of the most popular in Durham. A collaboration between CCMS, Tech, Media and the Stag’s Head, they have brought in musicians from all across Durham. From newcomers to Durham favourites, bands have flourished here, and the community we have created has been extremely supportive and welcoming. A highlight was Stag’s Live, where we had the first fully audio and video recorded gig in the bar. It was an amazing evening of music. We have also had three concerts this year: Christmas Under the Stars, Springtime Melodies and Collingwood Proms ’26. They have only gotten bigger and better throughout the year. With the best production quality, performances and audience numbers, we have truly set the bar for where CCMS concerts can go. We have always had solo and external performers to help people showcase their musical talent. Collingwood Proms was our biggest concert this year, bringing in alumni and boosting performer and audience numbers. It was a concert for the books! Our biggest success this year, however, will always be the community we have created. It has been an absolute joy seeing how supportive, kind and welcoming we have become. Winning Best Society at the Societies Formal felt extremely deserved, and we are so proud of ourselves for reaching this milestone. It has been an historic year for CCMS! CCMS has meant and will continue to mean the world to me. It is such a special group of people who are driven to ensure everyone is supported. We are built on compassion, care and positivity, and this has given everyone their space to flourish musically. I am so, so proud of what we have accomplished this year and cannot wait to see where it goes next year! Ethan Almeida President, 2025/26

600+ students engaged

23 student groups 13 societies & 10 committees

700+ sessions

100+ events

The year in sports A note from our Sports Captain 2025/26 It was another big year for sport at Collingwood, starting with over 440 sign-ups during Freshers’ Week! There were plenty of successes to celebrate across the year. Our Cheer and Football clubs delivered outreach programmes with local schools, while over £35,700 was raised across our sports for Movember. This was a great example of how sport at Collingwood continued to contribute beyond competition itself. At the university-wide Dinner of Champions, Lera Tarasenko won College Sport Sportswoman of the Year and Oliver Alcock won College Sport Student Volunteer of the Year. Collingwood also recorded wins at both Loughborough Varsity and York Varsity, with over eight clubs being sent across the two events. We also secured a 10–3 win against Mildert in our first ever inter-college Varsity in years.

Volleyball Club (CCVC) This year, we promoted two out of our three teams up a division, enjoyed a busy and sociable year off the court, and introduced our first ever Volleyball Power Hour during Collingwood Day. Our A and B teams both confidently beat their College Finals rivals. We also made our annual trip to Deep Dish in Portugal, where we were clearly one of the most active and fun college clubs. Our new C team came second in their league and were next in line for promotion if our B team had not been the team to go up. Looking ahead to next year, we have set big goals to win the three leagues our teams are in, while aiming for Club of the Year. Leading this club with Joaquin Escudero for a second year in a row now has been an incredible experience, and seeing the club grow from scraping six players weekly to the 30 concurrent members we have has been a sight to watch. Mateo Girala Vice-President, 2025/26

Alongside competition, the year also brought some memorable events for the wider sporting community. In November, we hosted our first ever Collingwood Sports Alumni Weekend, which included a charity football tournament and a night in Stag’s. Collingwood’s largest Sports Ball ever also took place, with over 620 guests and a great evening of awards. CCWRFC won Collingwood’s Club of the Year, while Men’s Basketball A’s won Team of the Year. I have thoroughly enjoyed being Sports Captain and representing Team Collingwood on and off the pitch. The responsibilities that I have been able to take on have equipped me with skills I will take forward into my future career. I am incredibly proud of each team and captain! Niamh Moynihan Sports Captain, 2025/26

Cricket Club (CCCC) We raised £1,100 through a 24-hour charity event in collaboration with DUWCC and held a Collingwoodwide social during the Ashes. We also had two competitive teams fighting for the indoor cricket trophy. Two of the five individual awards at the Durham College Sport Dinner of Champions went to CCCC members, for Student Volunteer and Sportswoman. The cricket club has created an incredible community built on the hard work and dedication of its members. It’s been a genuine privilege to have run it this year, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the club continue to grow next year. Oliver Alcock President, 2025/26

Collingwood Boat Club (CCBC) It has been another excellent season for CCBC. Through the winter, the club went unbeaten in men's and women's fours across Tees, DASBH and Senate Cup, while the women's eight claimed the fastest college time at Rutherford and the men's eight topped the standing at HORR. Beyond the usual races, we also travelled further afar to both Cambridge, for Fairbairns Cup, and then took 53 members to Bruges for Belgium's largest rowing race. The summer brought further success, with wins at Tees, Durham City, Hexham before concluding the year with three events at Durham Regatta, including both the men's and women's college fours. This year brought two standout opportunities to race beyond Durham. In November, our top men's and women's eights travelled to Cambridge to compete against Oxbridge college crews at Fairbairns Cup. Then in March, 53 CCBC members, made up of novices competing for the first time to returning alumni, made the trip to Bruges to race in Belgium's largest rowing event. This is what makes CCBC so special, trying new opportunities and experiences for everyone in the club. The two college-only events of the season are Senate Cup in Autumn and Durham Regatta in the summer. CCBC won both, on the men's and women's side, and were awarded the overall college winner award for rowing. The people I've met and opportunities I've had through CCBC have defined my time at Durham, and leading the club this year has been a privilege I've thoroughly enjoyed. James Radford President 2025/26

Rugby Football Club (CCRFC) This year the club has grown in so many ways. Between winning the Floodlit for the first time in three years and raising more money for charity than ever before, it has been a true success. Both teams have been dominant on the pitch, with some outstanding results in both the league and cup, and everyone involved should be incredibly proud. Among the club's biggest achievements were winning the Floodlit with the last kick of the game and becoming Intercollegiate Sevens champions. The club also won Collingwood's Champagne Moment of the Year. Off the pitch, the club raised over £12,000 for Movember, breaking into the top 40 in the UK, as well as over £6,000 for the Niall Stringer Foundation through its largest charity ball yet, which included incredible CCRFC performances. It's been an absolute pleasure to run this club that has truly made my university experience. The more you put in, the more you get out. "Rock the Floodlit." Ethan Berman President, 2025/26

Collingwood Cheer This year, we have grown the club to over 50 members, having started with only 14 returners. Across all four teams, we train for over 10 hours a week, all culminating in an intercollegiate competition at the end of March. We came first in All Girl Stunt, 2nd in Coed Main and Coed Stunt, and 4th in Pom at our college competition.

Basketball Club We’ve had an incredibly successful year, going undefeated in all competitions and winning the league, Floodlit and Festival of Sport, as well as Varsity matches against Loughborough, York and Mildert. Our socials have gone from strength to strength, helping to ensure a much-needed strong fresher intake and leaving the club in good hands for years to come. We were also shortlisted for College Team of the Year across the University and won Collingwood Team of the Year. It has been a privilege to be part of the club for my three years at Durham, and I have really enjoyed being able to give back a little bit this year as President, ensuring the club continued to function smoothly and promote basketball across all levels within Collingwood. Jacob Britton President, 2025/26

We have also had several performances throughout the year, supporting various college sport fixtures. This year, we also set up a cheerleading outreach programme in which we went to Framwellgate School and trained up a team of students to learn to cheer, helping with accessibility for such an expensive sport. The school pupils also gave a cheer performance in June 2026 as part of Collingwood’s annual C5 Football Outreach Tournament. The outreach programme went on to win Best Outreach Programme at the Collingwood Sports Ball and Best New Volunteering Initiative at the Durham University Volunteering Awards. This year has not been without its challenges, but I would do it all again to see the team’s faces after we finished the competition with such great results. Flora Kanan President, 2025/26

Table Tennis Club (CCTTC) The Table Tennis A team had an invincible year, finishing with a 6-3 win in the league final to take the championship. The A team also doubled in membership from last year, with many players contributing to our invincibility throughout the season. CCTTC is a close-knit group of players, and that’s why we’re so successful! Cameron Barrs A Team Captain, 2025/26

Collingwood

3793

Pool Club (CCPC)

Grey

2635

Van Mildert

2308

We’ve continued to grow the Pool club, with six competitive teams this year compared with only two three years ago. We competed across all four league divisions, with two teams reaching the later stages of the cup.

John Snow

1572

Josephine Butler

1455

St. Cuthbert's

1424

We also had multiple members shortlisted for Sports Awards, including the winners of Special Contribution to Sport, Unsung Hero and Sports Personality of the Year.

South

1287

St. Mary's

1265

University

1210

CCPC provides a unique space for new and old players of the game to socialise and enjoy their evenings together, often outside of formal fixtures.

St. Aidan's

1183

Stephenson

1112

Trevelyan

1037

St. John's

743

Hatfield

694

Ustinov

587

St. Chad's

548

International Study Centre

Arthur Fassum President, 2025/26

St. Hild & St. Bede 1301

Collingwood achieved 3,793 college sport points this year, finishing top of the table by over 1,000 points. Across the year, Collingwood won six Floodlits and 10 leagues.

Football Club (CCAFC) This year, we won two league titles and secured two further promotions, including our A team winning the Premiership title. We also reached the Floodlit final. Off the pitch, we raised over £30,000 for charities supporting Movember, Epilepsy Action and Heel and Toe. This included £23,000 raised for Movember, which saw the club finish 11th in the UK and in the top 100 in the world for the amount raised. The club is by far the largest of its kind, with over 350 members ranging across all abilities, and we’ve seen continued success across all levels on and off the pitch. Thomas Gregorick President, 2025/26

3,793 sport points Top of the table by over 1,000

10 league titles 6 Floodlits

Volunteering & Outreach

Outreach and community engagement Collingwood students have continued to take part in a wide range of outreach projects with local schools, youth groups and organisations across Durham. These projects have used music, sport, art, and fundraising to create opportunities for local engagement while giving students the chance to contribute their skills and time to the wider community. Music has been a major part of this year’s outreach activity. Through Collingwood College Music Society, students worked with Belmont Primary across a series of weekly sessions, teaching pupils “Sparkle and Shine” before welcoming them to Collingwood to record the song in the College’s Recording Studio and perform it in front of a live audience. The project was also filmed and later shared with Collingwood alumni as the College’s Christmas greeting. The pupils’ performance formed part of Collingwood’s first Lights On event and Christmas Market. The Dining Hall hosted a range of student-run stalls, with students raising money for charities of their choice through activities including bake sales, plant sales, cards and loom bands. The event was attended by pupils, parents, members of the school PTA, students and members of the wider community. In Epiphany Term, students worked with Burnside Academy on a new music outreach project, supporting pupils to write, compose and record an original song. The project gave pupils the opportunity to work directly with student musicians through the creative process, from developing ideas to recording the finished piece. Students also ran singing sessions with St Cuthbert’s Hospice at several points across the academic year, continuing to use music as a way of engaging with the wider Durham community.

Our Epiphany outreach with Burnside Academy was an absolute treat! Created and led by Izzy Barr, the idea was to take the creativity and imagination of the Year 6 leavers at Burnside and channel it into an original song! The volunteers spent 3 sessions in the studio writing and recording the song for them, and we went in once a week during term to teach the children. Watching them learn and recognise their ideas in the lyrics and the music (eg. the saxophone solo!) was a delight and to finally have them visit college and record in the studio was a memory we all will cherish, volunteers and students alike! Ethan Almeida CCMS President, 2025/26

Click here or scan the QR code below to watch the Burnside Academy collaboration and listen to the original song written, composed and recorded by pupils and Collingwood students.

18 Sport outreach also continued to develop this year, with two new initiatives introduced alongside Collingwood’s established C5 Football Outreach Tournament. A new C5 football outreach project was set up with Durham City Youth Project, while a cheerleading outreach programme was established with Framwellgate School. The cheer project gave pupils access to specialist coaching in a sport that can often be difficult to access because of the cost of coaching, equipment and facilities. Over the course of the year, pupils developed skills in stunting, tumbling, jumps and dance, before performing as a school cheer team at Collingwood’s annual C5 Football Outreach Tournament in June. The project was later recognised at Durham University’s Volunteering Awards, where it won the New Volunteering Initiative Award. The annual C5 Football Outreach Tournament continued to bring local schools into Collingwood for a day combining sport, community and an introduction to university life. Mixed-gender Year 7 and 8 teams took part in football on the College’s 4G pitch before having lunch in the Dining Hall, touring College and speaking informally with Collingwood students about their experiences of university. The tournament also continued its focus on encouraging young women’s participation in football, with each team including at least 50% female players. The Arts and Aspirations project with Bridge Young Carers gave young carers the opportunity to visit Collingwood, take part in creative activities, meet current students and ask questions about university life and the collegiate system. Across these projects, students have been able to share their interests and skills while contributing to the wider community. The projects have also given students practical experience in leadership, communication, teamwork and organisation.

As a local young person who has grown up in the North East and coached recreational and competitive gymnastics for the past seven years, it was only natural that when I came to university, I would take up cheerleading. Having never done the sport, Collingwood Cheer inspired a passion for cheerleading that I just couldn’t shake. I found that cheerleading was the perfect mix between dance and gymnastics while being able to work as a team, and there has been no looking back since. Thanks to the support of College, I have been able to set up and run a local cheer outreach project in County Durham. It has taught me how to be adaptable to many crazy circumstances that arise and adopt new coaching techniques to best suit the individuals. I have also developed conflict resolution skills, which, as you can imagine, are necessary when working closely with a bunch of 11 and 12-year-old girls! We have been on a rollercoaster this year, from having to listen to school drama and liaise our way out of afterschool detentions, but I would not change a thing. We have many enthusiastic members of Collingwood Cheer who have been excited to get involved with this project towards the tail end of the year. Thanks to their participation, we have forged a pathway for this project to continue in the next academic year, with the school eager to continue following positive feedback from both students and the parents! I hope that as more volunteers get involved, we can reach more schools and more young people can get involved. Freya McNicol

Tidal - Collingwood's mural project

The Mural Project 2026 was a community art project and collaborative artwork planned by me with Gemma Pocknell, Iris Johnson and Collingwood College. The project created Tidal, which is Durham University’s first public mural. I designed it with community spaces in mind. The design was kept relatively simple, to encourage participation from anyone, regardless of previous experience, and to facilitate future maintenance. When Thom shared his goal of making the college a more welcoming space, I welcomed the challenge because I believed in improving the area for everyone. The existing set of stairs were ageing, further dampened by our notorious local weather. We wanted to go beyond creating a good first impression of the college upon arrival, towards making it somewhere vibrant, yet still peaceful. The mural design is inspired by the coast of Seaham, one of County Durham’s beach towns. It features dolphins, porpoises, kittiwakes and gannets, all wildlife that can be found there. I wanted to draw attention to the environments in County Durham, to place an emphasis on locality. University is a significant but transitory space in students’ lives. Most students at Durham University are not from Durham, so Durham is a temporary space for many of us. However, Collingwood's porters, caterers, cleaners and administrative staff tend to spend longer periods of time here. It is important to remember that Durham is a more permanent home for others. With this project, I hoped to bring together all parts of the community, to anchor the more temporary members firmly in the community and to draw attention to both human and non-human residents here. By emulating some of the wildlife found in Durham, we hoped to highlight the diversity here, and cultivate a mindful environment. What does the sea mean for us, what does it represent? Change, the unknown, possibility? This land is brimming with history and myth. Humans have lived here and told their stories for thousands of years, of saints and hitchhikers alike finding their way inland, Vikings and AngloSaxons, coal miners, the Lambton worm rumoured to have terrorised the county, and of this place which for centuries, has held a scholarly purpose to educate, to enlighten. In light of Durham's place in history, we hope that the work invites viewers to consider our place in the future; where are we in our era of ecological upheaval, both as individuals and as a community. With our climate rapidly changing and sea levels rising, what will the sea mean for us when it has brought cities underwater? What might Durham be like underwater?

20 To look into the unknown future and to pay heed to our existing environments as they transform is essential. Eleven months of planning and one month of painting! It is hard to describe something which so many people have dedicated their time and care to for so long. Measuring approximately 150m2 and with the help of over 50 volunteers, the project was no small feat. To make it as inclusive as possible, we invited all members of the Durham community, beyond the university alone, to participate in painting. This way, the artwork was both the process of artmaking and the finished work. For me, the best part of the project was when volunteers said that they were happy at the end of the day. There is something fulfilling about working with others, and seeing the things made possible by collaborative effort. Volunteers came alone or with friends and some had made entirely new friends by the end of the process. It was wonderful to see and hear people enjoy themselves while working on the project, helping and looking out for one another, despite the weather and other hurdles we encountered. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to share art-making as a means of creating and strengthening communities here, and our connections to space. There is another part of the design which was planned to be painted on the “risers” of the steps, as a vertical mural. Due to maintenance on the brickwork in the steps, it could not be done this year. That means anyone interested can continue the project and take part in further transforming the space for the better! Thank you to everyone who chose to be part of this project, it was only possible with you: Gemma, Iris, Thom and Senior Management at Collingwood College, AkzoNobel for their very generous paint donation, Our Volunteer Organisers, The staff at Collingwood College, porters and cleaners, for their help and patience, Sid, Claire, Amy and Dave, Our local and international supporters, Our volunteers Leading this project was a joy and a privilege. Amarina de Labaume

Undergraduate Research Internships (UGRI)

Undergraduate Research Internships The Undergraduate Research Internship (UGRI) programme supports Collingwood students to undertake structured, supervised research projects across a wide range of academic disciplines. These internships allow students to work closely with academic staff and research groups, often for the first time, while developing research skills and gaining experience beyond their degree programmes. UGRI projects vary considerably depending on the subject and the research involved. Students may work with specialist software, laboratory techniques, archival or policy material, fieldwork or computational models. They gain first-hand experience of how research is designed, carried out, analysed and communicated. In the previous academic year, donor support enabled 26 Collingwood students to undertake research internships across a broad range of disciplines, giving them the time and financial support to focus on their research and develop their skills and academic interests. In summer 2026, 29 Collingwood students are undertaking UGRI projects. As many of this year’s internships are still underway at the time of writing, final student reports are not yet available. However, some students have shared reflections on the projects they are currently working on and their experience so far.

Research taking place in 2025/26 This year’s projects cover a wide range of subjects, including biosciences, engineering, physics, psychology, law, geography, finance, sport and exercise sciences, and mathematical sciences. The following page provides an overview of the projects being undertaken by Collingwood students this year. The projects include laboratory and computational research, as well as work in law, policy, finance and the social sciences. Although the methods and subject areas vary, each internship gives students the opportunity to work directly with research questions in their field and develop experience beyond their taught studies.

Summer 2026 Undergraduate Research Projects Project title

Host Department

Determinants of Exposure Segregation and its Effect on Business School Preferences for Redistribution (1) The visual perception of human interactions. (2) Gazing at the social world: How we look at others’ faces.

Psychology

Virtual Power Plant with Artificial Intelligence for Resilience and Decarbonisation (VPP-WARD)

Engineering

A Lego Atomic Force Microscopy

Physics

Comparative Perspectives on De Facto Relationship Recognition

Law

Photobiomodulation as new way to improve healthy ageing

Biosciences

Evaluating seasonal monsoon forecasts as a guide to monsoon-triggered hazards and impacts in Nepal

Geography

Simulating Gravitational Wave emissions in the Milky Way

Physics

Privilege and Professional Sport

Sport and Exercise Sciences

Modelling the Aerodynamics Around Wind Farms

Mathematical Sciences

Research England Hydrogen Innovation Project (REHIP) Department of Engineering Real Estate in Times of Geopolitical and Technological Shocks: REIT and PBSA Returns, and Flood Risk in UK Property Insurance

Department of Finance (DUBS)

How does maternal mental health shape children's socio-emotional development? A cross-cultural study

Psychology

Lived experiences of premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Psychology

Planning Approval Process for Energy Projects in North Earth Sciences and Durham Energy Institute East England A study of Responsibility

School of Government and International Affairs

Nutrient uptake in commensal bacteria: exploring uncharacterised TonB-dependent transporters.

Biological Sciences

Designing and Constructing a Microwave Antenna

Physics

BCI Headset Calibration and Data Processing with Machine Learning

Computer Science

China and the Demands of International Economic Justice

Philosophy

Visualising Planetary Giant Impact Simulations

Physics

Simulating Synthetic Dimensions in Ultracold Molecules Physics Designing greener polymers for fabric care

Chemistry

Flexibility of predictive processing in scene viewing and Department of Psychology representation Making the MoST of Chemistry modules – Mapping of Skills and Training

Chemistry

Mapping the Evolution of UK Public Law: A 70-Year Study of Public Law Journal Outputs

Durham Law LLB

Law and Global justice

Law

Agricultural Policy: 1960s Kenyan Cattle

History

Student reflections from summer 2026 Making the MoST of Chemistry modules – mapping of skills and training My project is an audit of the chemistry course at Durham University, with a main focus on mapping the skills acquired across the modules. I have begun with an audit of the L2 lab course, and my findings will be used to create a badging system to encourage engagement in lab sessions as part of a wider Chemistry Department project involving ‘playful learning’. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to work on this project. Though it may seem less abstract than other projects, I appreciate that my work will help improve the enjoyment of the chemistry course for future students and have a wider impact in the department. Though my time on this project has only just begun, I have found it really enjoyable. I enjoy the rigour and attention to detail it demands, and I look forward to the more creative elements, including designing badges. I hope to gain research experience and improve my ability to sharpen complex material and break it down into clearer, more structured information. I also think I will come away with a greater appreciation for the structure behind my own degree. Katie Meldrum Year 2, Chemistry

Privilege and Professional Sport I’m really enjoying my summer internship so far and have found it to be a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience of academic research. I’m working with Professor Martin Roderick on the Privilege and Professional Sport Project, which explores themes such as work, social class and privilege through interviews with former professional footballers. My current role involves listening back to interview recordings and checking transcripts generated by transcription software, correcting errors and clarifying sections where the audio was unclear. Once the transcripts have been verified, I’ll begin coding the interviews and identifying key themes through thematic analysis. I’m looking forward to developing my qualitative research skills and gaining a deeper understanding of the research process. The internship has already been particularly valuable as my proposed dissertation will also involve semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Beyond my undergraduate degree, I hope to continue into a master’s and then a PhD at Durham, with the aim of pursuing a career in academic research. This experience is giving me a strong foundation for those future ambitions. Lily Walton Year 2, Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity

Simulating gravitational wave emissions in the Milky Way My research project is looking into the use of gravitational waves to classify ultra-compact binaries, specifically distinguishing white dwarf-neutron star (NSWD) systems from white dwarf-white dwarf systems (DWD) using simulated data for the LISA satellite, which is scheduled for launch in 2035. This has been an incredible opportunity to strengthen my skills in problem solving, computation and data analysis, and has also allowed me to explore machine learning’s role in modern research. Through this opportunity, I have also been able to engage with academics across the world and learn about broader research taking place in accreting compact objects. By the end of the project, I hope to have demonstrated my skills in problem solving, data analysis and foundational thinking, and to improve upon those skills ahead of my final year of study. I also hope to resolve the problem of distinguishing NSWDs from DWDs using only gravitational wave data, or at least develop a programme that can accurately assign probabilities to the classification of gravitational wave sources to inform optical observation strategies. Guy Mathieson Year 3, Physics

Visualising planetary giant impact simulations This summer I have been working with the Physics Department on a computational astrophysics project focused on planetary collision simulations. As I was completely new to the area, a big part of the internship has been learning about how these simulations work, including the data and visualisation methods used to study them. My main project has focused on using Blender to create accessible, reproducible visualisations from simulation data, with the aim of making it easier, quicker and cheaper to produce high-quality animations. Alongside this, I have been writing code and guidance so that others can use the process more easily in future. I also spent part of the internship supporting the team presenting at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in London, where I created a results screen for planetary, galaxy and cosmos simulation games. This showed participants how successful they had been in recreating different scenarios and gave them more detailed feedback on the choices they made. I have found the internship really enjoyable and rewarding so far, and it has helped me build confidence in coding, problem-solving and working more independently. It has also given me valuable research experience and made me more excited about the possibility of pursuing research in the future. Callum Mosley Year 2, Theoretical Physics

UGRI Impact Reports summer 2025 Molecular Pharmacology: Cellular senescence and autophagy markers My internship at the Durham Biosciences Neurolab was a deeply immersive introduction to experimental neuroscience and gave me a complete view of the research process, from forming a hypothesis to generating publishable data. I spent the summer supporting two PhD projects exploring how cells respond to stress and toxicity, while developing advanced cell culture and molecular biology skills. One of the most demanding and exciting aspects of my work was conducting immunofluorescence assays and using the confocal microscope to create my own multichannel fluorescent images. The concepts I had previously encountered only in textbooks suddenly became visible, vivid and real through the images I produced. A significant part of my internship contributed directly to a final year PhD student’s research. I carried out a series of ELISAs to measure inflammatory responses in samples from human skin cells and microglia, generating data that formed part of the study’s conclusions. Realising that each pipetted sample was becoming part of a scientific paper gave me a strong sense of purpose and made the work feel like an active contribution to new knowledge. The internship was also an experience in scientific collaboration. I worked closely with a PhD student to troubleshoot experiments and interpret unexpected results, and I also had the opportunity to mentor a Year 10 work experience student. Guiding someone new through the environment that had challenged me so much in my first internship was both grounding and rewarding. Looking back, this experience was much more than technical training. I learned how to deal with experimental variability, how essential it is to maintain rigorous controls, and how exciting it feels when data emerges clearly enough to support a hypothesis. The combination of technical immersion, intellectual challenge and real scientific contribution made this internship one of the most defining experiences of my degree.

This opportunity built directly on my previous internship in the same department and has been central to my transition from undergraduate to industry-ready scientist. Last year, I contributed to a published study on p62, a protein involved in cellular autophagy, and the confidence I gained from that experience carried into this second internship. Because I was not starting from scratch, I could focus on refining my technical abilities, strengthening my scientific reasoning and learning how to manage more complex experiments. The continuity between the two Collingwood internships created a clear narrative of growth that I was able to speak about in interviews. This undoubtedly helped me secure my industrial placement at GSK, where I will begin working as a researcher in targeted protein degradation. The skills I developed through this internship have given me the preparation and selfassurance I need for that role. This internship also helped me learn something important about myself. I realised that I want to pursue work that feels meaningful on a personal level, not just intellectually rewarding. I love research and I care deeply about science that contributes to areas such as cancer and Alzheimer therapies. What matters most is that I continue to choose work that feels purposeful. The experiences I have had through both internships have given me the confidence to imagine a future shaped by my own interests rather than external expectations. I am very grateful to the donors who support Collingwood students and to everyone in the Neurolab who guided and encouraged me. These two internships have allowed me to contribute to meaningful research, helped me secure a placement at GSK, and given me a sense of direction at a crucial stage in my studies. I finished my second year with a first class result of seventy-three percent, and I credit a large part of that success to the passion for science and research that I discovered during my first internship. I feel as ready as I could hope to be because of the opportunities your support made possible. Thank you. Alexander Han Shin Year 2, Biochemistry

ELEXIA research project This internship, with Durham University’s Engineering Department as part of the ELEXIA project, provided me with lots of different skills and flexibility in how to approach research projects. As a project set within a much wider initiative, I was able to understand how anthropological research can interact with real-world issues. One of my biggest jobs was sorting through EU policy surrounding coordination in energy. I used content from interviews with people in the research group to help identify what I should focus on, particularly around data interoperability, privacy and taxation. This was really interesting and taught me how to organise information so that the most relevant material could be found quickly.

Modelling Geothermal Mine Water Heating Systems Working on modelling geothermal mine water heating systems allowed me to deepen my understanding of geothermal processes while developing my GIS and coding skills. A major part of my internship involved using QGIS to digitise and georeference nineteenth and twentieth century mine plans, creating spatially accurate layers across six interconnected coal seams for subsequent modelling. I also worked with the GEMSToolbox code, developed by academics within the Earth Science department to model heat flow in mine water systems. Much of my early work focused on resolving discrepancies between my digitised mine plans and the existing Python scripts. Over time, I became confident in running the modelling workflow independently and understanding how different parameters influenced the results.

I was encouraged to analyse policy through art. One idea we came up with was rewriting policies as letters so that they could be easier for a lay audience to read and could convey possible issues within them. This was a new critical approach for me, and I really enjoyed integrating art into research. I also helped design a workshop for the EU energy consortium and wrote interview questions about data lakes for someone working at a pilot site in Denmark. To round off the internship, I wrote an article on the ethics of data collection within energy coordination, which may be developed further by my supervisors and published with me as a co-author. This opportunity helped me learn how to approach research and made me realise that I would enjoy a career centred around policy research. It has also led to me attending the EU energy consortium to assist in running a workshop on energy coordination, which will contribute to the writing of a policy recommendation to the EU. I would recommend this opportunity to other students. It is a brilliant way to see how academic work can manifest in the real world. I have very little nepotism potential and live in a place with few job opportunities outside the service sector. My CV was very bare before university, and I was worried I would be unemployable. Now my CV is beginning to take very good shape for an undergraduate, and I have the supportive donors of Collingwood to thank for that. Anna Worledge Year 2, Health and Human Sciences

Using Paraview, I visualised the mine plans in three dimensions. One of the most memorable moments was generating my first accurate three-dimensional model after several weeks of troubleshooting and learning unfamiliar software. Seeing the model come together was extremely rewarding. Through this internship, I contributed to wider departmental research into geothermal energy, including the GEMS and TownRock Energy projects. I worked closely with a Professor and a PhD student who specialise in geothermal mine water systems, and had contact with TownRock Energy, helping me understand how this research connects with industry practice. The internship helped me develop resilience, patience and independence in research, and improved my confidence in solving complex problems and explaining technical findings. It also confirmed that I genuinely enjoy the research process. This opportunity has strongly influenced my future plans. It reinforced my ambition to pursue a research career in geothermal energy, gave me the confidence to transfer onto a master’s course, and reaffirmed my passion for applying geology and geophysics within the renewable energy sector. I am extremely grateful to the donors and supporters of Collingwood’s internship programme for making this experience possible. Their generosity allowed me to develop key skills and a deeper understanding of the geothermal sector, and has genuinely shaped my future direction. Jamie Aaron Grattan Year 2, Masters of Earth Science (Geoscience)

Changemakers NE Internships

Changemakers NE summer 2026 Changemakers NE provides Collingwood students with the opportunity to spend six to eight weeks over the summer supporting communities and organisations across the North East of England. Placements vary each year but are centred around improving the lives of others, developing a better understanding of the issues affecting communities and groups of people, and contributing to sustainable and lasting social change. Students work with existing charities and organisations across the region, combining volunteering and front-line delivery with contributions to ongoing research, projects, campaigns or communications. Changemakers NE is open to students from all academic backgrounds and disciplines who have an interest in community-based work and social change. Interns receive a donor-funded grant to support them throughout the internship, with self-catered College accommodation also available where required. In summer 2026, five Collingwood students are undertaking Changemakers NE placements with organisations working across community support, food sustainability, mental health and the arts. This year’s partners include Inspire North, REfUSE, Washington Mind and Durham Jazz Festival. The placements offer a wide range of experiences. Students are supporting tenancy and accommodation services, food redistribution and community engagement, evaluation of mental health provision for young people, and the development and delivery of Durham Jazz Festival. Across each placement, students have the opportunity to contribute to the work of organisations in the region while developing practical experience and a deeper understanding of the communities they are working with. As the internships are still underway at the time of writing, final student impact reports are not yet available. However, two students have shared reflections on the projects they are currently working on and their experience so far.

Student reflections from summer 2026 This summer, I am undertaking the eight-week Changemakers NE internship with Inspire North, working within the domestic abuse and complex needs support service. My project has centred on supporting clients as they move into temporary accommodation, from carrying out risk assessments to conducting home visits, of which I have now attended over 15. A particular highlight has been co-producing a client handbook and welcome pack for the temporary accommodation alongside one of Inspire North's clients, ensuring the resource reflects the needs and voice of the people who will use it. My days have ranged from packing and delivering donations to clients to ensuring property files are in date in terms of services needed. I was also fortunate enough to attend the Durham Women's community meeting, which gave me a valuable opportunity to connect with other domestic abuse services across the area. Alongside this practical work, I have completed a wide range of training, including certifications in Adult Safeguarding, Safeguarding Children and Young People, GDPR, Information Governance, Health and Safety, Fire Safety and Lone Working. Alongside this, I’ve worked through the organisation's full suite of policies covering everything from de-escalation to data protection. I have found the experience extremely rewarding, particularly the opportunity to explore more of Durham beyond the limited view I had as a university student. I am only halfway through my internship, but I am already looking forward to making the most of the time I have left, and I know I will be sorry to see it end. I feel I have developed a strong foundation for a future career in the public sector and I’m extremely grateful for being granted this opportunity. Alecia Whitworth Year 1, Modern Languages and Cultures

I am currently completing my Changemakers internship with Washington Mind, where I have been working alongside the team to support the development and evaluation of their community mental health projects. Rather than following a fixed project plan, I have had the opportunity to work collaboratively with the organisation, responding to the areas where they feel additional support is most valuable. This has included researching evidence-based approaches, contributing to service evaluation, as well as supporting the development of a new comfort reading initiative designed to promote emotional wellbeing and help young people regulate difficult emotions. It has been incredibly rewarding to apply the research and analytical skills I have developed during my psychology degree to projects that have the potential to directly benefit the local community. The internship has given me valuable insight into how a local mental health charity operates and the importance of co-produced, preventative approaches to supporting wellbeing. As someone hoping to pursue a career in applied psychology, this experience has reinforced my interest in community-based mental health services and shown me how research can be translated into meaningful improvements in practice. I am also incredibly grateful that this opportunity has been funded through Collingwood College. Paid opportunities within the psychology and mental health sector are relatively uncommon, with many comparable roles being voluntary. The funding has enabled me to fully dedicate my time and energy to supporting Washington Mind over the summer, while gaining invaluable professional experience that will help shape my future career. Catherine Smart Estella Year 3, Psychology

Student Opportunities Funding

Student Opportunities Funding 2025/26 Thanks to the generosity of Collingwood alumni and supporters, Student Opportunities Funding helps students access experiences that support their personal, academic, athletic and professional development. The programme brings together a number of funds, including the 1972 Club Student Opportunities Fund, the Sara Pilkington Personal Development Fund, the NE Opportunities Fund and the Greatest Need Fund. Each has its own purpose and eligibility criteria, but students do not need to apply to a particular fund. Instead, they complete a single application outlining the opportunity they would like to pursue and any financial barriers they may face, with awards then made from the most appropriate source of funding. The funding is designed to make a contribution towards opportunities that can enhance students’ university experience and personal development. This can include volunteering and meaningful travel, training and skills development, internships and work experience, employability opportunities, participation in sport, music, theatre and other activities, and, where appropriate, support with essential equipment, membership costs or academic materials. During 2025/26, these funds supported more than 50 Collingwood students, with over £13,000 awarded in grants. Funding has supported a wide range of opportunities, including specialist qualifications and training, international sporting competitions, academic conferences and research opportunities, performance and creative projects, volunteering and outreach, and travel linked to professional and personal development. For many students, this support is about more than meeting the immediate cost of an activity. It can make an opportunity possible that might otherwise have been out of reach, giving students the confidence and freedom to participate fully in university life and pursue experiences that can shape their interests, skills and future plans. We are unable to include every student impact report within this annual report, but the following pages bring together a small selection of reflections from students who received support. Their experiences show some of the different ways donor funding has helped make valuable opportunities more accessible to Collingwood students.

Student reflections 2025/26

Junior Hockey World Cup Chile 2025

Playing alongside and against the best players in the world at my age group has shown me where we need to be as a Scotland team and individually to compete at the top.

This tournament marked a historic moment for Scottish hockey, as it was the first time Scotland U21 had ever qualified for the Junior World Cup. Donor support played a real part in allowing me to travel to Chile and represent my country on this stage, which has always been a dream of mine.

The experience has also had a significant impact beyond hockey. Being an international hockey player requires determination, resilience and the ability to perform under pressure, skills that carry over into my university life and will be key in my future career. I also had to use many of these qualities throughout the trip, including respecting my teammates, coaches, umpires and opposition on and off the pitch. Even when we did not agree with umpires, it was important to respect that we could not play without them and that they have a massive role in the tournament.

The funding helped subsidise the personal £4,100 cost each of the selected Scotland U21 players needed to pay to participate. This grant went towards our travel, accommodation, food and tournament fees. It helped reduce the financial barrier that would have made this opportunity far more difficult and allowed me to focus fully on performing and developing without the added stress of costs. During the tournament, we faced a challenging set of pool matches against Spain, Canada and Australia. We then moved into the Challenger Cup playoffs, where we beat Namibia 4–0, drew 2–2 with New Zealand before winning on running penalties, and went on to win the Challenger Cup title after a 1–1 draw, again decided on running penalties. Being named Player of the Match in the final was an honour and made the experience even more special. Running out in the Scotland kit, singing the anthem, and competing in a tournament Scotland had never reached before was definitely a defining moment in my sporting journey. Competing at the highest junior level has massively improved my development.

There were also lots of international coaches at the tournament, which gave me the opportunity to be recognised by people who have good connections with clubs in their own countries. This could be useful in the future when looking at opportunities to play abroad. I cannot thank the donors enough for their support in pursuing my dream of competing at the Junior World Cup. You will never know how much the donation meant. It genuinely helped make this historic and transformative experience possible for me. It has been the best experience of my life, and one I will always remember. I am so grateful to be part of the generous Collingwood community. Thank you so much. Ava Wadsworth

Advanced SCUBA training in the Red Sea

One of the most memorable moments came while diving at a site called Brothers, which is renowned for shark sightings. A thresher shark approached us from below and got within six feet of me before I saw it. It is still one of the most amazing sightings I have had to date. I also learnt just how capable I am under pressure. During one dive, I became separated from my buddy at 30 metres in relatively strong current and had to manage the situation calmly while ascending safely. If I had panicked, even a little bit, I almost definitely would have run out of air.

SCUBA diving in the Red Sea was a truly unforgettable experience. It provided me with the opportunity to significantly develop my diving qualifications by completing my Nitrox, Night, and Wreck Diver certifications, bringing me one step closer to achieving my Rescue Diver and, ultimately, Divemaster qualifications. Beyond the qualifications themselves, the trip allowed me to explore Egypt, witness some of the most breathtaking marine wildlife I have ever encountered, and immerse myself in one of the warmest and most welcoming cultures I have had the pleasure of experiencing. Most importantly, the experience strengthened existing friendships and helped forge new ones. The shared challenges, adventures, and memories created throughout the trip have formed bonds that I am confident will last a lifetime. This opportunity has contributed significantly to my personal development, both as a diver and as an individual. Throughout the trip, I developed my communication skills by working closely with instructors and fellow divers from a range of backgrounds. Clear and effective communication is essential in diving, whether discussing dive plans, conducting buddy checks, or responding to changing conditions underwater. Learning to communicate confidently and precisely in these situations has strengthened a skill that is equally valuable beyond diving. The experience also reinforced my sense of responsibility. As I gained more experience, I became increasingly aware not only of my own safety but also of my responsibility towards less experienced divers. Looking out for others, offering guidance where appropriate, and remaining calm and attentive throughout each dive taught me the importance of leadership, accountability, and teamwork. The discipline required throughout the week was also invaluable. Waking up at 5:00 a.m. each day to prepare equipment, attend briefings, and spend long days diving demanded consistency, organisation, and commitment. Maintaining this routine while staying focused and motivated demonstrated the importance of self-discipline and resilience, qualities that I will continue to apply throughout my academic studies and future career.

I now intend to complete the Rescue Diver qualification towards the beginning of the next academic year, by which point I should have over 50 logged dives, so I could even start my Divemaster qualification. I would absolutely recommend this opportunity to other students. I have already recommended it to friends who are seeking opportunities for personal and academic enrichment. Don't hesitate, go for it! These past two years of SCUBA have been absolutely unreal and I attribute that largely to the generosity of this fund. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the donors and sponsors of the Opportunities Fund for making these experiences possible. Your generosity has enabled me to participate in SCUBA diving expeditions in both Mallorca and the Red Sea over the past two years, opportunities that I would not otherwise have been able to experience. These trips have allowed me to develop my diving qualifications, grow in confidence, build lasting friendships, and experience incredible environments and cultures. The knowledge, skills, and memories I have gained will stay with me for the rest of my life. Thank you for investing in students like me and for providing opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom. Your support has had a genuinely lasting impact on my personal development, and I am incredibly grateful. Samuel Henry Potter

Cheerleading outreach programme This year Collingwood Cheer outreach was established through a link with Framwellgate School. As a qualified cheer and gymnastics coach, I was able to put on weekly after-school cheerleading sessions to allow students in the local community to access proper cheerleading classes without the financial burden of joining a cheerleading club. This was all due to the funding available from the Opportunities Fund, which ensured I could cover fuel costs to attend the sessions. Cheer is a very inaccessible sport that requires high upfront costs and specialist coaches and equipment, meaning many children who are keen to join the sport cannot, simply due to financial restrictions. Over 30 children have participated in sessions throughout the year, learning how to stunt, tumble, jump and dance while improving their communication and teamwork skills. Older pupils were able to assist in the coaching of sessions, working on leadership skills and improving their confidence. The students worked hard to put on a Christmas showcase for family, friends and staff to show off what they had achieved over the first term of cheer club. They were also invited to perform at the annual Collingwood C5 football tournament, performing in front of a much larger crowd and getting a chance to have a look around College, hopefully inspiring them to think about their future and university. It was amazing to see the individual students grow in confidence over the course of the year, with many personalities flourishing as they began to see cheer club as a safe space. Durham University Volunteering recognised this project during their endof-year ceremony, with the project being awarded New Volunteering Initiative of the Year, which was a very proud moment for me. Thanks to this funding, I have been able to set up a lasting programme that will hopefully continue and expand for years to come. Without financial support, this would not have been able to happen. My leadership skills have greatly improved over the course of the year, managing the sessions but also leading and mentoring future volunteers. It has also taught me how to be adaptable to many crazy circumstances that arise and adopt new coaching techniques to best suit individuals. I have also developed conflict resolution skills, which, as you can imagine, are necessary when working closely with a bunch of 11 and 12-year-old girls! We have been on a rollercoaster this year, from having to listen to school drama and liaise our way out of after-school detentions, but I would not change a thing. I have learned that I am able to use my existing skills to continue to develop further and make a difference in the local community using what I am good at and sharing my knowledge. It has also greatly helped me in my current job, where I have had to undertake the role of running my local gymnastics club. I could not recommend getting involved with College outreach enough. It has truly been a highlight of my year. Reach out if you have any outreach ideas because, with the help from College, so much good can be done! I would also like to thank everyone involved in funding, which made sure that finances did not create a barrier to this project. Freya McNicol

Northern Lights on the world stage Northern Lights A Cappella enjoyed another exceptional year, winning the UK final of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella for the fourth consecutive year and sixth time overall. Their success took the 16-member group to the ICCA world finals in New York, where they represented the UK as the only British ensemble in the competition. At the world finals, Northern Lights finished second in the world, competing against nine of the strongest collegiate a cappella groups from the United States and Canada. The group also received special awards for Outstanding Arrangement and Outstanding Choreography. The achievement builds on a strong history of student leadership within Northern Lights. Over 13 years, former members have helped establish the group’s musical and performance culture, with alumni continuing to offer mentoring, coaching and creative support to current members. This year, five Collingwood students were part of Northern Lights and received support through Collingwood’s Student Opportunities Funding to help them take part in the ICCA finals in New York. Two of those students have shared reflections on what the opportunity meant to them and how the funding helped make their participation possible.

The opportunity to perform in New York was incredible. We had all put a lot of work into the set we produced, and being able to show that set to an American audience was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. As one of the soloists this year, I have developed so much in my stage presence, confidence and vocal ability. It required us all to constantly be trying to be better, requiring a lot of dedication and resilience. One of the highlights of the competition was the reaction from the audience. Although we were performing on a Broadway stage, being able to hear all the cheers, laughs, gasps and even emotional reactions to our set was one of the most incredible experiences. I was also part of the exec team this year as Publicity Officer, which required a lot of hard work to ensure the successful running of the group. This has provided me with amazing marketing experience, which I can use as I pursue a role in financial marketing. A trip to New York is obviously not cheap, especially as a student. Receiving support from the Student Opportunities Fund helped resolve some of the anxiety relating to the financial side of the trip and allowed me to focus on the competition. It was honestly the opportunity of a lifetime, so thank you so much! Poppy

Performing on this stage alongside some of the best groups in the world was an amazing opportunity and a privilege. The trip was also more than just the competition itself. Spending time in New York before and after was enriching, and I truly believe one of the things that allows us to perform as well as we do is the bond we share as a group. The experiences we share outside of the rehearsal room and off the stage add to the hundreds and hundreds of hours of work we put in. The wider trip was also a really big milestone for me personally. I struggle a lot with anxiety, and navigating the journey, including travel and spending time in an unfamiliar place, showed me how far I had grown since last time and how much more confident I had become. I have also had a very challenging year in my personal life, and this opportunity showed me how much I am able to achieve through extremely big efforts despite difficult circumstances. Seeing the other finalists perform was incredibly inspiring and motivating. The trip also allowed us to make connections with other groups and people within the a cappella scene, and I hope to stay in Northern Lights next year to contribute my knowledge and skills to the next generation and help train and guide future members of the group. I am forever grateful for the opportunities that funds like this provide to myself and others in a similarly disadvantaged financial position. Things I had never imagined myself being able to do because I could never afford to even consider them have been possible and have changed my life. Daniel

Thank you to our supporters We are enormously grateful to our supporters. The combined impact of the programmes included in this report is immense. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Collingwood students are able to discover and develop their full potential. If you would like to support Collingwood’s future, you can make a contribution to the Student Opportunities Funds through either a one-off or recurring donation. Simply scan the QR code on the right or click here to find out how. If you would like to contribute to one of the programmes specifically, please email us at collingwood.collegeoffice@durham.ac.uk

You can also support Collingwood students when shopping online Alumni, supporters and friends can help raise funds for Collingwood College students by signing up to easyfundraising. It is simple: when you shop online with participating retailers, they donate to Collingwood at no extra cost to you. Sign up here to support Collingwood

Contact Collingwood College South Road Durham DH1 3LT E: collingwood.collegeoffice@durham.ac.uk

Get involved! There are lots of ways to stay connected with Collingwood after graduation. You could return to College to speak with current students, share your career experience, support an event, mentor students, or simply keep in touch with life at The Wood. We would love to hear from you. Get in touch to find out how you can get involved.

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