How can mathematical modelling help in the coronavirus pandemic?

Access & outreach £92,640

Mansfield’s founding principle of inclusion and openness is central to College, and we lead the way in widening access to Oxford University. As a result, every year Mansfield is providing life-changing opportunities in elite education. The global pandemic will only exacerbate inequities in society. We are very grateful for all the donations received this year in support of Mansfield’s effective access and outreach work – even while it was forced to go online. Leading support from alumna Kathleen Russ (Modern History, 1986) has funded the role of Access Officer at Mansfield this year. We are so pleased that with Kathleen’s support we have been able to sustain this vital role. We are extremely proud of Martha, who was one of the athletes selected for the Women’s Boat Race this year, having never rowed before she came to Oxford. ‘ I went to a [sixth form] college where Mansfield does access work. I definitely would not have applied to Oxford if I hadn’t gone to an open day at Mansfield. It made me think Oxford was a place for me.’

Martha Birtles (English, 2018)

Life-changing opportunities for students and our Student Support Fund £173,334

This fund has been a lifeline for many of our students in 2020, making a fundamental difference to ensuring they can continue to thrive at Oxford. Thanks to a major gift for Student Experience & Well-being, we have been able to invest in increased welfare, well-being, academic support and cultural provision. Needing to respond quickly to the Covid crisis, in the summer we launched a new hardship fund for Mansfield students affected. We were delighted that £15,000 was contributed to the new hardship fund to the end of July 2020. This – plus additional funds raised since – is being distributed directly to students in most need of financial support.

Teaching & research; scholarships & bursaries £138,501

Mansfield has a long history of raising funds to enable talented students to study and thrive at Oxford. One of the most powerful ways in which alumni choose to support College is to contribute towards the teaching of their subject. Our tutors and the intensive academic experience of the Oxford tutorial is what alumni tell us made such a fundamental difference to their academic progression and future lives and careers.

Contributions from across the Mansfield community, with support from Sarah Harkness (PPE, 1980) and her husband Peter, are funding another Reach Scholarship at Mansfield. And we were delighted to receive support for bursaries this year for Maths students from alumnus Anthony Dewell (Maths, 2002). We welcome all support focused on the furtherance of academic subjects, an increasingly important priority for the College.

Buildings & environment £209,914

Over decades, donations to support our College’s historic built environment have made an important difference, and in the summer long-awaited work to restore the Chapel organ began. We look forward to celebrating its completion soon, and to hearing the organ singing out at Mansfield once more. Support for the fund this year has also enabled improvements to the gardens and landscape around the Quad and made a contribution to vital roof works.

Graduate scholarships

Importantly, there is a growing number of funded graduate scholarships at Mansfield. For the past two years, Mansfield students have benefited from the Helena Kennedy Scholarships, established by an alumnus in honour of our former Principal, for which we continue to raise funds. Elsewhere in this Magazine we announce the launch of two new graduate scholarship programmes: seven new Kofi Annan Scholars of the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Programme, and a new Lutheran Council Scholarship for a student seeking sanctuary in the UK – both made possible through philanthropy. These are in addition to our two Adam von Trott Scholars. ‘ ‘I am deeply aware of the positive impact sport has on academic and professional performance. Hence I was very excited to be able to support sport at Mansfield in the hope that a wellrounded experience will help Mansfield students with their studies and general well-being.’

Antonio Bonchristiano (PPE, 1984)

‘ It’s an honour and a pleasure to be a Kofi Annan Scholar at Mansfield. An honour because Mansfield and the WeidenfeldHoffmann Trust are such progressive and public-spirited institutions; a pleasure because my co-scholars are kind and inspiring people.’

Sarani Jayawardena, Kofi Annan Scholar 2019

Other initiatives / Sports & societies £22,239

This year Antonio Bonchristiano (PPE, 1984) made a new donation to sport at Mansfield. Antonio’s gift had already made a significant difference to varied sports, particularly rowing, prior to lockdown. It then enabled teams to keep going in spite of Covid, for example with a new four-person boat that saw both the women’s and men’s teams able to get on the river through lockdown. We also celebrate other vital support received for MCBC and the Library Fund this year.