More than 150 supporters and friends of the College were welcomed on Wednesday 24 September to Lambeth Palace in London to mark the progress of the Dobson Free Places Fund.
Dobson Free Places is an ambitious initiative to provide world-class, means-tested support for talented students to come to St John’s College. UK undergraduates with household incomes below 60% of the national median can receive full coverage of maintenance and tuition fees at St John’s, graduating debt-free. The Christopher Dobson Endowment for Free Places will have a target annual distribution that will cover the cost of 40 free places per annum in perpetuity. The College has less than £3 million left to raise by March 2027 to achieve this significant goal in UK higher education.
The celebratory drinks reception gathered a remarkable community of Johnians whose generosity is opening doors and shaping brighter futures for generations of students to come.
At the reception two current Free Places recipients, Mustafa Sayfi (2024) and Evangeline Dillon (2023), talked of their experience receiving a Free Place and how it enabled them to flourish at John’s, allowing them to take part in extracurriculars as well as focus better on their studies.
Mustafa Sayfi said: “The Dobson Free Places award lets me focus fully on my studies, enjoy university life, and gain real financial independence. A year ago, I worried about turning my offer at Cambridge down because of the cost — but thanks to this support, I never had to think about that again.”
Mustafa and Evangeline are two of seven current recipients of the award with five more to come this academic year. They are testament to the difference that donor contributions can make to the lives of current students at St John’s. The pilot scheme is going into the third year and the final phase of the campaign.
There are 18 months remaining to secure the ambitious £25 million endowment fund. With continued support talented students who are most in need can have the transformative opportunity to study at St John’s. The collective generosity of Johnians has been pivotal to making the Dobson Free Places scheme a lasting legacy of inclusion and excellence.
At the drinks reception, the Master, Heather Hancock (1984), emphasised how Johnians’ generosity is shaping a brighter future for students. As an endowed fund it demonstrates ongoing commitment and underpins the independence of St John’s. The progress so far would not have been possible without the steadfast commitment of the donors of the College and the wider Johnian community.
Johnian and member of the Development Board, Mark Onyett (1990), shared the reasons behind his benefaction to the Dobson Free Places scheme and how he had seen firsthand how great an impact each gift can have on students attending St John’s. Mark also noted that matched funding ensures each donation is effectively doubled, courtesy of an anonymous foundation. As a result, his contribution had twice the impact and provided support to a greater number of students.
The College thanks those who have contributed to the scheme and hopes more Johnians will be inspired to donate to help achieve the target by 31 March 2027.
To read more about the Dobson Free Places at St John’s, please click here.
All photos credited to Owen Billcliffe