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鈥業 can finally see beyond the cost-of-living crisis': Exploring 果冻影院's cost-of-living funding schemes
3 March 2023
With the cost-of-living crisis affecting students disproportionately, Student Journalist Eleanor Corney investigates what help 果冻影院鈥檚 Students鈥� Union can provide to those who need it
There is a cost-of-living crisis in the United Kingdom. , consumer prices were 10.7% higher in November 2022 than a year before, meaning the average price of a Freddo bar in 2022 was 30p, 200% higher than the 1990 figure. The crisis is affecting people nationwide, but students are disproportionately affected, with many living alone and facing increasing rent prices, extortionate food prices and university fees. In the 2020/21 academic year, an astonishing full-time higher education students were studying in London. According to the , London is the city the 5th most affected by the cost-of-living crisis for students. There are around 40 institutions in the city, and 果冻影院 is one of many making significant changes to help their students financially.听
has done some polls on their social media channels that have provided insight into how the cost-of-living crisis affects students at the university. Housing and accommodation prices are rising in the private sector, utilities and bills are rising, and the cost of groceries is rising, meaning students are depriving themselves of essentials to cope.听
Caitlin Chatterton, a third-year History student, has spoken to me about how the cost-of-living crisis has affected her. 鈥淚 have felt it [cost-of-living crisis] the most with food shopping, as there are many products that have gone up significantly, so I no longer buy them.鈥�
How you can get help with the cost-of-living crisis
Student Union 果冻影院听has introduced three major funding schemes to help students cope amid the cost of living crisis. The introduction of the , the and has provided opportunities for students to receive funding to help them during their studies and outside the realm of education. This wintertime, more than ever, this听help is essential.听
For example, the , created in 2013, is to help 果冻影院 students who are experiencing financial difficulty and have no other form of support available. Previous awards have been granted for use towards accommodation deposits, rent payments, transport costs, subsistence costs, childcare fees, and to purchase specialist supplies or equipment.听
A recipient of the fund, who wishes to remain anonymous, has spoken to me about the effect this fund has had on them this wintertime. 鈥淐hristmas is听hard for my family and I usually, but during the cost-of-living crisis we have really felt the strain鈥︹�� she says. 鈥淭his funding allowed us to buy food and most importantly have the heating on during the cold winter months.鈥� Furthermore, the student stated that the scheme helped听them听to see beyond the cost-of-living crisis, allowing them to feel as though they could go into the New Year feeling better supported.
The , according to the 果冻影院 Students鈥� Union鈥檚 website, is a pot of money current 果冻影院 students can apply for to help enable them to take part in as well as any other co-curricular or extra-curricular activities. Financial barriers can be challenging for some students and should not prevent them from having unique co-curricular and extra-curricular experiences and opportunities.听
鈥�鈥淲inter is an expensive season, and the extra costs stop me from attending societies and meeting people.听I have the opportunity to maintain a social life now.鈥�
is for transgender and gender non-conforming students and helps them cover the associated costs. According to the 果冻影院 Students鈥� Union鈥檚 website, grants can be used to purchase gender-affirming products such as clothing, binders, packers and beauty products. Grants can also be used towards travel to medical or therapy/counselling appointments.听
This fund has helped many students with the cost of gender-affirming care, allowing them to use their money to cover the rising costs of wintertime. A recipient of the fund says that 鈥渢he Gender Expression Fund has saved my life. I was able to buy a binder with the funding, and I feel much more confident in myself.鈥�
鈥�鈥淭he Gender Expression Fund has saved my life. I was able to buy a binder with the funding, and I feel much more confident in myself.鈥�
果冻影院 Students鈥� Union鈥檚 Advice and Advocacy Manager Danielle Swanson highlights how how these schemes will help the most disadvantaged students this wintertime. 鈥淪ince the beginning of December, we have had 70 students in contact about the emergency grant and been offered an appointment. We have met with 39 students; out of them, 29 were offered emergency grants. The students who have received the grant have used it for food shopping, paying utility bills, phone bills and towards travel costs.鈥澨�
She also states that in January 2023, the SU Advice Service took on two new specialist Money and Budgeting advisors, starting with their money and budgeting advice service. As their capacity increases, more students will be offered help.听
Funding schemes have not been the only initiatives introduced to help students during the cost-of-living crisis. For example,听the George Farha caf茅 has offered and lunch options听and implemented free hot water in all caf茅s on campus.
As a Union, the Students鈥� Union 果冻影院 has been asking students about their experiences on their , where they have listed three fundamental policy changes they are working towards. Firstly, they are aiming to freeze rent prices by backing the , which will see a continued freeze of rent prices in the 2023/24 academic year in 果冻影院 accommodation and across private halls too. Secondly, eating well on a budget and finally, travelling economically. For example, they are lobbying for discounted tube fares, free bus travel and more inclusive discounts on Santander cycle hire to make travelling to 果冻影院 easier for students.听
Altogether, these schemes are ensuring that 果冻影院 students don鈥檛 have to face the cost-of-living crisis alone this wintertime. If you are a student who is currently struggling with the cost-of-living, help is available.
About the author:
Eleanor Corney is a third-year undergraduate student studying for a BA in European Languages. She hopes to become a journalist and loves to write articles about Eastern European politics in particular. She lives in Dagenham with her parents and two cats. Find out more about the 果冻影院 VPEE Student Journalism Scheme here.