India Matthews
Charities are a paramount priority for the JCR as we aim to support causes that matter both to our community here at St Hugh’s and to the wider world. Each term, we run a range of events that raise money, awareness, and engagement for charities chosen by our students.
Charity Pot Donations
Each term, we distribute roughly £1.2k of JCR charitable funds through our pot nomination system. Students nominate causes important to them, the JCR votes, and the money is split between the selected charities (usually three to four, except in Michaelmas when we support one major charity - this is liable to change in the upcoming review). This ensures our giving reflects the values and experiences of the student body.
Charity Formal
Every term (usually in Week 3) we host a Charity Formal with an accompanying afterparty in the bar. These themed evenings bring the whole college together for a good night and a great cause.
Highlights have included Pink Week, a Hillary term tradition, which focuses on breast cancer awareness. We distributed pink ribbon pins at the Charity Formal, and the college band Red Post even rebranded as Pink Post for the night, performing in the bar after the dinner.
ADHD Awareness Month in Michaelmas 2025 followed the same format, where £1 from every formal ticket went to ADHD UK. The evening continued with live music from the band Figure It Out, and the bar put on a special cocktail, with proceeds added to the donation.
RAG Ball
Every Michaelmas, the JCR hosts the annual RAG Ball, which is our biggest charitable event of the year. This year’s theme, “A Night in Venice: A Masquerade Ball,” transformed college with a tarot reader, casino tables, a caricaturist, unlimited drinks with each ticket, live bands, and a DJ in the bar.
Proceeds from the ball were split between Oxford Homelessness charities and Palestinian Aid. As a JCR, we aim to support both local organisations that directly impact our community and global causes that reflect our values.
Other Events
In Trinity 2025 we ran Pie the JCR Committee, where students paid £2 per plate for the honour of throwing whipped cream at their most loved, or most hated, JCR members. It was chaotic, cathartic, and raised an impressive £164 for Sebastian’s Action Trust, a charity particularly meaningful to one of our members. When someone in college has a cause close to their heart, we do everything we can to support it.