Currently, the major project we support is The Art Room, a charity set up in 2002 to offer art as therapy to children and young people aged 5 to 16 who are facing major challenges in their lives. It uses art to raise their self esteem, self confidence and independence. Many of the students who attend The Art Room are disengaged from mainstream education and are disruptive or withdrawn. There are now five Art Rooms in Oxford which include a central hub at Oxford Spires Academy and “pop up” Art Rooms at other Oxford schools. There is also an Art Room at Robert Blair Primary School in Islington, London.

At lecture meetings we have a collection box for any odds and ends of materials such as buttons, beads, stamps, broken and unwanted jewellery, sequins, lace and any other materials that may be of use to the children in their activities. NB Collections temporarily suspended as The Art Room have run out of storage space.

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, who has a degree in Art History, has chosen The Art Room as one of four charities to receive her royal patronage, reflecting the importance of art therapy to troubled children. Her visit to the Oxford Art Room in April 2012 was much appreciated by the children and staff alike (see News).

In previous years we have supported the following projects:

2012

Carswell Community Primary School, Abingdon was awarded £408 to assist in replacing aging playground murals with mosaic murals done by the whole school.

2011

Long Furlong Primary School, Abingdon was supported with a grant of £400 for Quantum Theatre to visit the school to act as a stimulus to initiate a cross curricular project involving literacy, art and design technology.

2010

The Net, a young people's centre was granted £250 for the paint and other arts materials for the creation of four large external murals.

2009

£100 was given to John Mason School to assist with their "Loan Art Scheme".

2008

£150 was awarded to St. Edmund's R.C.Primary School for printing workshops.

£100 was awarded to John Mason School to assist with their "Loan Art Scheme".

2007

£75 was awarded to John Mason School towards the cost of costumes and scenery for their production of "High School Musical".

£75 was awarded to St. Edmunds R.C.Primary School for the creation of nativity sculptures.

£200 was awarded to Larkmead School for a cross-curricular project based on a Museum.