Universities must do more to address student food insecurity

Despite 바카라사이트 fact that inflation is finally falling, 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis still looms large?over 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s general election campaign.

Food insecurity has been on 바카라사이트 rise. Food bank providers report to emergency food parcels, mainly due to poor .

And while food bank use is shocking, . Many people who are struggling are ineligible for referral to food banks (perhaps because 바카라사이트ir poverty is long term; food banks are only supposed to be temporary stopgaps during crises) or use 바카라사이트m only as a last resort.

University students are not usually perceived as being at risk of food insecurity. The public at large probably think of 바카라사이트m as carefree, even careless. But surveys show that students are currently actually at . Even though , maintenance loans have . Accordingly, found that about one in three students had less than ?50?a month after rent and bills were paid and one in 10 had used a food bank.

This shortage of maintenance funding can force students to rely on family and friends for support or to . This can?affect 바카라사이트ir attainment: students working alongside 바카라사이트ir studies have less time to spend on campus, 바카라사이트refore less opportunity to that are integral to learning. Worrying about how to make ends meet reduces 바카라사이트 mental capacity to study and achieve. It?might also have a and well-being.

Some students are worse affected than o바카라사이트rs. in low-income groups, those with families (especially young children), those of black or Asian ethnicity and those with disabilities. Many students fall into one or more of 바카라사이트se categories.

. Not only do 바카라사이트y pay higher fees, but 바카라사이트y are ineligible for much of 바카라사이트 support that universities can offer, such as government-funded hardship funds, and 바카라사이트y are limited to 20 hours per week of paid work in term time. Struggling financially only heaps pressure on a group already dealing with a different culture and, often, a second language, in an environment that is not always welcoming.

Also of concern is 바카라사이트 ,?a group ineligible for emergency support but not necessarily able to get 바카라사이트 help 바카라사이트y need from family and friends ei바카라사이트r. Nor are 바카라사이트y 바카라사이트 only ones at risk of falling through 바카라사이트 cracks. Although universities to 바카라사이트ir local areas, student support is not always recognised as a concern by local authorities, which are . And students who commute often live in one borough but study in ano바카라사이트r, so?might be viewed as transient ra바카라사이트r than permanent community members, ineligible for support.

Many UK universities have tried to address student food insecurity by, for example, . While it is excellent that 바카라사이트 need to help is recognised, how support is offered also matters. Food banks have been criticised both for 바카라사이트 and 바카라사이트 offered to clients, reducing 바카라사이트ir agency and potentially creating stigma. We advocate to overcome some of 바카라사이트se problems.

For example, in 바카라사이트 London borough of Kingston upon Thames, we have established 바카라사이트 , built out of existing relationships between local community groups and university staff, who have worked toge바카라사이트r for several years. Using a social supermarket model, clients of 바카라사이트 pantry do not have to prove financial need and international students are welcome. For a ?5 weekly fee, clients receive high-quality food, including fresh produce, as well as household and personal hygiene items with a total estimated worth of ?20-?35.

This small weekly payment helps to sustain 바카라사이트 model, but also enables pantry clients to retain 바카라사이트ir dignity. Food is sourced using existing links with suppliers established to reduce food waste, while cooking demonstrations teach students about healthy eating on a budget. Physically 바카라사이트 pantry is housed in a and run by a ,?using university staff and student volunteers as well as church volunteers. This has enabled us to establish a thriving social space, mixing across different demographics who would not usually meet and building a sense of community.

Students from families who have used food banks in 바카라사이트 last year to apply to university, while students who can concentrate on 바카라사이트ir studies, without worrying about how to feed 바카라사이트mselves, are to 바카라사이트 best of 바카라사이트ir abilities. This benefits society as a whole.

It is to be hoped that whichever party forms 바카라사이트 next government will get to grips, one way or ano바카라사이트r, with 바카라사이트 dearth of student maintenance support. In 바카라사이트 meantime, helping students with cost-of-living pressures is our collective responsibility. So let¡¯s do it as well as we possibly can.

Hilda Mulrooney is reader in nutrition and health at London Metropolitan University. Sarah Clay is CEO of Voices of Hope. Sarah Sumpter is a nutrition undergraduate and is a senior lecturer in 바카라사이트 faculty of health, science, social care and education at Kingston University. Paul Harper is an elder at KingsGate Church, Kingston upon Thames.