Voluntary donations to assist Spurgeon’s College students

 
Many people across Baptists Together have understandably voiced concern and sadness over the closure of Spurgeon’s College.   
Partners across Baptists Together have invested significant time and resources over the summer to ensure an appropriate continuation of studies for a range of students. This has included co-ordinated work across our colleges, regional associations, specialist teams and Baptist Union trustees. 

As explained in more detail below, many students have incurred extra costs. Some of you have asked how you can make financial donations to support students whose studies have been so suddenly disrupted. It is now possible for you to make a voluntary donation towards specific costs these students will incur.  
 
There are two areas of specific need.   

Firstly, a number of Baptists, whether they are ministers-in-training, or accredited ministers undertaking further studies, had already paid some of the fees for the 2025-26 academic year. Though there is a mechanism for making a claim to the Joint Administrators for the College, the timeframe for the recovery of any money and the amount that may be returned are unknown. To ensure there is no immediate financial barrier to continuing study elsewhere, BUGB would like to support these students.  

Secondly, those students who are on a pathway towards BUGB accreditation are likely to incur additional costs as they continue their ministerial formation at another Baptist College. The Colleges have worked incredibly hard to ensure each of these Ministers-in-Training has a workable route for continuing their training.  Nevertheless, these students were not expecting the additional travel to get to colleges beyond London and the accommodation required for short blocks of residential training. Similarly, those who were about to start on this pathway at Spurgeon’s are facing costs they had had not planned for. BUGB would like to ensure that all these Ministers-in-Training are not excessively disadvantaged further by these additional costs. 

If you would like to voluntarily give a donation towards these costs, you can do so by following below. It will be possible to give this way up until Sunday 9 November.
 

*Though BUGB will facilitate your giving, all the money will go to the students. (Please note that this means that it is not possible to Gift Aid these donations.) BUGB have identified a figure which should cover most or all of the specified costs. If less than this figure is collected, BUGB Trustees have agreed to fund the remainder, up to the identified amount. If more is collected than is required, additional funds will be distributed among the Colleges, all of whom have invested time and resources helping students continue their study and formation.  

We will continue to offer our Specialist Team support and are working with all the relevant parties across Baptists Together to support those affected. Our Ministries Team is working with other partners across Baptists Together to support all Baptists who are part way through or about to start a programme of study and/or ministerial formation for accredited Baptist ministry or Recognised Local Ministry.

There is a support for students page, that is regularly updated with signposting and information (latest update 29 August): Information for Baptist students at Spurgeon’s College