Cost of living: NUS says university unions ramping up food help

University unions say they must step in to help students cope with rising food costs.

Free breakfast, communal kitchens, pantries and vouchers are among the measures introduced in some cities, while others are looking to expand aid.

The National Union of Students (NUS) says its research suggests one in three survives on £50 or less a month.

Both the English and Welsh governments said they had increased funding to help students in need.

BBC Newsbeat visited Swansea University, where the student union has been trialling a weekly free breakfast of tea, coffee, toast and croissants.

Third-year Paige Stott says her focus is on being able to afford the basics and she’s been increasing her hours at a part-time job.

“Costs have just skyrocketed — food is a lot more money than it used to be,” she says.

“You buy the essentials, like muesli, milk, bread. Even chicken is too expensive – I’m not eating that right now.

“I canceled Spotify and have no money for clothes at the moment – everything worked out.”

Trystan Thomas is a freshman in medicine and says he knows students who are trying to help each other.

“Personally, I don’t find it too difficult at the moment, but I know others are. Things are more expensive, especially fruits and vegetables and protein.

“It’s harder to eat healthily,” he says.

Lucy Thomas, also a freshman, has chosen to live 30 minutes away at home.

“I go out less and try not to drive as much because gas is so expensive,” she says. “Plus parking is £4 a day for uni.”

“Living at home means my mum is still very busy – I pay her a little bit weekly but she still does all the grocery shopping.

“There’s a lot I don’t have to do compared to living independently.”

Swansea Student Union President Esyllt Rosser said staff were worried some meals, such as breakfast, were being skipped.

“Small things the union can do to relieve that pressure make a big difference in a student’s day and don’t cost a lot of money,” she says.

“It’s a balance between what’s achievable for us and what will have the greatest impact.

“We are also talking to the university about travel and heating allowances and other major cost issues.”

Swansea University said it has a student finance team that provides guidance and conducts budgeting workshops.

Italso oversees the hardship fund and says its assessment criteria for the current academic year have been reassessed in response to rising living costs.

Aberystwyth, Durham, York, Kent, Newcastle and Queen Mary University Edinburgh (QMU) are among other higher education institutions considering additional support or expanding the offering when it comes to grocery bills.

Vasilia Todorova, a fourth-year student, is Vice President of the QMU campus pantry. It was launched in April 2020 to help students during the first coronavirus lockdown and is still running every Wednesday.

“Initially we saw about 20 students every week we were open, but as of this semester it’s closer to 35,” she says.

“Students pay £2 a year to join and then £1 per visit. We offer canned goods as well as fresh fruit and vegetables, all donated through FairShare.

“We just hope that we can make an impact in making it easier for students to access quality food.”

The comments follow a poll for the BBC which found that one in ten young people has used a blackboard in the last six months.

Conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Radio 1 and BBC Newsbeat, the online survey asked a representative sample of 2,719 British young people – aged 16 to 24 – about their concerns and concerns.

Chloe Field, NUS vice-president for higher education, said: “Food prices are up 15% year-on-year, student rents have skyrocketed and energy bills have doubled, but child support payments are nowhere near in line with inflation has risen, and the students have been completely ignored by a government reeling from crisis to crisis.

“One in three students survives on £50 or less a month after paying rent and bills, and more than half spend less on groceries.

“So many struggle to simply survive, let alone thrive, in their education.”

Ms Field added: “The Prime Minister and his Cabinet urgently need to come up with a tailored student living support package and act to tie student support to inflation. Without action, no budget will keep the students from starving this winter.”

The Welsh Government says it is spending more than £1.6bn to cover the cost of living for students in Wales.

The Department of Education says it is increasing maintenance loans in England every year, so disadvantaged students now have access to higher amounts than ever before.

In Scotland, where students don’t have to pay fees like in other UK countries, Education Secretary Jamie Hepburn says the government’s rent freeze will help those living in rented accommodation.

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