Often forgotten within the cost of living crisis, students across the nation are struggling to afford basic necessities during term time.
According to a 2022 survey by the National Union of Students, around a third of students believe their universities could be doing more to support them through financial help and more access to affordable food.
With students most affected including disabled, estranged and financially vulnerable, Vision spoke to the JCRC College Chairs to discuss the effects of student hunger, affordability and how they are making sure that their students are eating.
Vision first asked the College chairs about the pre-existing strategies to help students access food at the University, and whether or not these systems work.
The Vanbrugh Chair, Lex, emphasised that whilst bursaries can help, they often do not target the problem:
“While the Uni does try to provide some bursaries, those are not fixing the issue at hand and also aren’t always publicised enough for people to access them.”
“During meetings with YUSU, the topic has come up but not much, if any, guidance has been offered except for sign-posting towards food banks. These often aren’t accessed by students for multiple reasons, including shame.”
Alcuin’s Chair, Chloe, reiterated the same sentiment, stating that “it often feels like the university’s response to the cost of living crisis is to hand out bursaries, which is obviously useful but once that runs out, then what?”
“It’s not prevention or a cure to a massive problem, it’s just temporary mitigation”
Lex further emphasised the University’s failings to support students during COVID-19:
“During lockdown, the University was still charging for rooms until the following year, meaning costs for student rooms that weren’t being used were continuing and charged full fees for the courses.
“But the university did provide vouchers and food when isolating which helped provide food for those with COVID-19, which should still be considered a minimum”
“Students need to choose between paying utilities and rent or food as the higher prices aren’t factored into the maintenance loan.”
To combat the impact of the cost of living crisis on students, Vision asked the college chairs about their plans for the next academic year and how they will support students to access food.
Planning to line up regular brunches and lunches to provide a meal for students in need each day, the College Chairs are currently devising plans to ensure that students are able to access a meal each day at every college, with students’ individual college allegiances ignored to allow access.
The Goodricke College Chair, Seraphina, told Vision about their idea to “make a discrete food bank in Goodricke” using “some kind of Google form to send out to students, allowing them to select items they may need”.
“It’s only an idea right now, but I definitely want to do something through the college to help students this year”.
Seraphina highlighted the importance of anonymity for students, emphasising that communication with students in need “only needed to be a university email as I worry students will feel embarrassed to access food banks”.
Vision then asked the College chairs to promote their own student-friendly food schemes:
Kyle, Constantine’s JCR Chair, told Vision that “we do a breakfast every Wednesday morning during term time that I’m fairly sure our college team would be happy to open up”, an event that is often very well attended by Constantine students.
Chloe, Alcuin’s Chair, promoted their upcoming strategies also, stating that “I know my college team are now going to be doing a weekly food event (I think soup, we have a gigantic soup cauldron!) and we certainly won’t be asking questions about which college people come from”
“Depending on when it ends up being, I will also attend myself”
Vanbrugh’s JCR Chair discussed their college’s previous steps towards ensuring students are able to access food throughout the term:
“We’ve been holding Wellness brunches on Fridays since last year and are hoping to continue them, to provide at least one meal a week to students and other Colleges are doing the same, not checking if people are from our College or not.
“We’ll also be hosting a Wellness and Wellbeing Wednesday during Freshers where we work with several societies providing resources to access food.”
Finally, there was a strong commitment from the Vanbrugh College chair, who promised Vision that “if the University doesn’t feed the students, we will find a way”.
Vice Chancellor Charlie Jeffery ensured Vision that students will be given access to food:
“We are going to be going back to something we did during COVID which is make food vouchers accessible to students who are in need. Food is one of the things that really worries me because if students aren’t eating properly then they’re going to have all sorts of other consequences so we are working to make sure that we get these messages across.”
YUSU Community and Wellbeing Officer Hannah Nimmo:
“Student hunger is a problem – one that will become worse in the face of the cost of living crisis. YUSU is running a cost of living campaign which aims to not only lobby the university and local services for more provision and support but also stay abreast of the real-time effects that this crisis is having on our members.
“We encourage all students to talk to us – tell us what you’re struggling with financially, where those pressure points are, and how you want services to support you.
“We can only tackle this together – so talk to us and campaign with us, and in return, I and we will do all we can to make sure those who need the help get it.”