St Margaret's Institute, North Oxford community centre, announces the success of its four-year appeal

£500,000 from over 800 donors ensures future of community centre

North Oxford residents are celebrating the purchase of a community centre from St John's College after a four-year £500,000 fundraising effort. 'It's extraordinary' said appeal chairman Ben Simpson, 'we raised the last few thousand pounds just days before we need to give St John's the cheque'.

Ben continued

'the local community now has this wonderful building for the foreseeable future.
St Margaret's Institute provides a social centre for everybody. In a typical week over 30 different groups use the building for activities ranging from children's parties to Balkan dancing'.

'This was a heart-warming example of how an appeal for an enormous sum of money can energise the whole community. I can't express my gratitude enough for the support from so many hundreds of people'

Some statistics from the appeal.

· 800 individual donors

· 100 people promised £1,000 each

· 18 different trusts and charities also helped

· Over 60 people actively involved in the fund raising.

· 32 separate fund-raising events

· Every event publicised to over 2,200 homes via circulars and posters

· Appeal expenses less than 2% of the amount raised.

Background facts

· St Margaret's Institute was built by public subscription in 1889 to provide a community centre for people in North Oxford.

· It is run by a voluntary committee and a retained administrator

· St John's College agreed to sell a 999-year lease of the building for the benefit of the local community for £400,000 in March 2004.

· The lease is held in trust by the local church.

· The appeal raised a further £100,000 to refurbish the building.

· Oxford City Council, through its North Area Committee, guaranteed the payments and has contributed £63,000.

· Local residents, and friends of the Institute have given over 75% of the money raised in the appeal.

· The Committee is most grateful to St John’s, the Church and the City Council, without whose support the community centre might have been lost.

Contact: Ben Simpson (appeal chairman) on 01865 274 073

or Bryan Wardley (appeal treasurer) on 01865 511 005.

The St Margaret's Institute web site is at http://www.smi-oxford.org.uk/