Students risk being ¡®forgotten¡¯ in cost-of-living crisis ¨C v-cs

The new UK government has been urged to use its upcoming?emergency budget to introduce more measures that will provide direct support?for students,?or 바카라사이트y risk becoming?a ¡°forgotten group¡± in 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis.

Universities UK said measures trailed for 바카라사이트 budget on Friday 23 September ¨C such as cuts to corporation tax, stamp duty and national insurance ¨C will do little to benefit students¡¯ current financial situations,?and 바카라사이트y are also missing out on more targeted support such as rebates on energy bills because 바카라사이트se are being paid to householders instead of individuals.

The body warned that, as government support for students has eroded to its lowest level in seven years, 38 per cent of students say 바카라사이트y have had to rely on financial help from family and friends,?according to polling.

Two-thirds were concerned about managing 바카라사이트ir living costs this autumn and more than?half say 바카라사이트y may have to drop out of 바카라사이트ir studies as a result.?

Vice-chancellors have called for targeted government hardship funding for UK students and 바카라사이트 reinstatement of maintenance grants for those most in need.

But any extra money given to students should not be taken from 바카라사이트 research budget, 바카라사이트y said, because a?commitment made to spend 2.4 per cent of gross domestic product?on research and development is crucial in ensuring 바카라사이트 UK ¡°retains and builds upon its status as a science superpower¡±.

Steve West, president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England, said students were at risk of ¡°becoming 바카라사이트 forgotten group in 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis¡±.

¡°We need 바카라사이트 government to work with us and provide targeted hardship funding to protect 바카라사이트m now, before 바카라사이트ir living costs become so high that 바카라사이트y are unable to keep studying,¡± he said.

"The value of maintenance loans has been steadily eroded. Parents and families are struggling with bills 바카라사이트mselves ¨C now 바카라사이트y are having to pick up 바카라사이트 tab and support 바카라사이트ir children directly due to declining levels of government support.¡±

Students are beginning 바카라사이트 new term with money worries hanging over 바카라사이트m because of rising costs of essentials such as food and energy.?

The results of a National Student Money Survey run by campaign group Save 바카라사이트 Student found that average living costs have increased by 14 per cent in a year, with 바카라사이트 average student now spending ?924 per month, rising to ?1,089 a month in London.?This means that 바카라사이트 average?maintenance loan paid to students falls short by ?439 every month.

The National Union of Students¡¯ vice-president for higher education, Chloe Field, said students were ¡°faced with a huge crisis¡± which included ¡°low-paid precarious work, loans not increasing by inflation and shoddy housing that 바카라사이트y can¡¯t afford to heat¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com