We are currently raising funds for a number of special developments at Finchale Training College.

The Priestman Lift Appeal
We have run a very successful appeal in 2007 and raised £46,000 towards our £57,000 target to install a new lift in the Priestman Building. The new lift will enable even motorised wheelchair users to have easy access to the student support services on the first floor. It will replace our 25 year old stairlift, which is very unreliable these days and can leave people stranded!

Please send your donations to:
Sally Robinson-Lundy,
Finchale Training College,
Durham DH1 5RX.
To download a donation form, click here:

Elvet House
We plan to embark on a Big DIY Challenge, using our own building craft trainees to convert and adapt 48 student bedrooms in our 30 year old Elvet Block. By knocking 2 rooms into 1, we want to increase the size of the study bedrooms and add a wheelchair-friendly shower, WC and wash basin to provide en-suite facilities of the highest standard.

Even though our own trainees will undertake a lot of the work as part of their work experience, we still anticipate that the project will cost in the region of £588,000.

We welcome donations of cash or materials that we can use in this project. From our Corporate Friends in particular, we welcome:

•  Sanitary ware  
•  Carpets  
•  Wall coverings  
•  Vinyl flooring  
•  Paint  
•  Kitchen and bathroom tiles  
•  Kitchen cupboards and equipment

To donate, please contact:
Sally Robinson-Lundy,
College Lifeline Project Development Officer
Finchale Training College,
Durham DH1 5RX
To download a donation form, click here:

We are raising funds to provide new and improved sports facilities and medical facilities that can be used by trainees as well as the wider community. We have applied for funding from the National Lottery, but this is not guaranteed and we need to obtain funding from other sources too.

We want to build a new multi-sports hall, changing facilities and rehabilitation centre that provides excellent facilities for disabled people to take part in sport and exercise as part of their rehabilitation plan. We also want to replace the college gym with more appropriate provision. Non-disabled people will also be able to use these facilities.

The new college health centre will provide not only improved medical facilities for trainees, but also a base for the delivery of community health services. We hope to work in partnership with the local Primary Care Trust and Priority Services Trust on this project.

If you wish to support this project, please download a donation form here:

Finchale College Nature Trail

We are seeking funds of around £17,000 to enable our Horticulture and Joinery trainees to create a public nature trail within the grounds of Finchale Training College. Located in the North Copse, this will be fully accessible to wheelchair users and other people with impaired mobility. We seek to install over a wetland area a stilted walkway made from recycled plastic bags! When the trees have been thinned out, it will let more light into the woodland so that indigenous species such as British Bluebells may flourish. There will even be a bee observation hive.

This project will enable our trainees to gain valuable work experience in an area where employment prospects are currently very good. Please send your donations to

Sally Robinson-Lundy,
College Lifeline Project Development Officer
Finchale Training College,
Durham DH1 5RX
To download a donation form, click here:

Solar Kiln

Finchale training College has a great supply of home grown timber which we harvest according to our approved Woodland Management Plan. What we need is a Solar Powered Kiln, an environmentally benign drying shed for timber that dries the timber very gently using the power of sun and wind. It will cost about £2,500. The Solar Powered Kiln will enable our joinery trainees to dry their own timber for use on their training, and in our other projects such as the Nature Trail and Pavilion Refurbishment.

To donate, please contact:
Sally Robinson-Lundy,
College Lifeline Project Development Officer
Finchale Training College,
Durham DH1 5RX
To download a donation form, click here:

Pavilion Refurbishment

Finchale Training College sports a 1940s cricket pavilion! The only trouble is it needs restoration to its former glory at a cost of around £16,000.

We can use timber that has been harvested within the grounds of Finchale Training College if we can dry it using a solar kiln for which we are also seeking funds.

By sponsoring this project, you will enable our joinery trainees to gain valuable work experience on a restoration project. You will also help to bring a disused and derelict building back into use as a sports pavilion for college and community use. Cricket and strawberry cream teas on the lawn, anyone?

To support this project, please send your donations to:
Sally Robinson-Lundy,
College Lifeline Project Development Officer
Finchale Training College,
Durham DH1 5RX
To download a donation form, click here: