The Nicholas Hammond Foundation

Shortly before his death in 2001, the former Senior Tutor of Clare, Nicholas Hammond, happily agreed that a new educational fund to support the College be established by one of his former students, named The Nicholas Hammond Foundation (NHF) in his honour.

The objects of the NHF, according to its trust deed, include ‘the advancement, promotion and encouragement of education, in particular, but not exclusively, by the support of the general educational purposes of the College'. The current aims of the Foundation are focussed on supporting Clare's tutorial and supervision systems.

Relatively small at present, the NHF has the potential to make an important long-term contribution to the life and standing of the College, as increasing investment in teaching quality attract even better students, staff and fellows, and raises even further the high academic standing of Clare.

Since October 2002, grants by the NHF Trustees have supported the costs of an additional Tutor, raising the total number to seven. An eighth Tutor, also supported by the NHF, will be employed by the College from October 2008. These measures have significantly reduced the caseload on each Tutor, reinforcing the overall effectiveness of the College tutorial system which is so crucially important to the high level of Clare's academic success.

The trust deed of the NHF ensures the absolute legal and financial independence of the Foundation in perpetuity, under the present rules for charitable trusts. The NHF is a registered charity, no. 1086795. It is run by an independent board of Trustees comprising the Master of Clare, ex officio; Christopher Cooper (1958), son of the former College Bursar, Brian Cooper; and Christopher Taylor (1960). The Trustees meet annually at Clare to decide how to distribute funds for the following year.

The College fully supports the aims and policies of the NHF, and hopes that its assets will be progressively increased by other gifts and contributions in subsequent years, to establish a secure and growing base of long-term support for the individual teaching and advice which underpin the excellence of a Clare education.

If you would like to support the work of the Nicholas Hammond Foundation, please contact the Development Director .