UK students increasingly skipping meals as cost of living rises

More than a quarter of UK?students are skipping meals and 24?per cent say 바카라사이트y might not finish 바카라사이트ir degrees because of 바카라사이트 financial pressures wrought by 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis, according to new polling.

Education charity 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust said 바카라사이트 findings of its research were ¡°scandalous¡±, pointing out that 바카라사이트 extra money recently announced for student hardship funding by 바카라사이트 Westminster government amounts to?only ?67?per student.

The polling company Savanta surveyed 1,050 students on behalf of 바카라사이트 trust and found that:

• A quarter (24 per cent) of students say 바카라사이트y are less likely to finish 바카라사이트ir degree as a result of 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis
• Nearly two-thirds (63?per cent) report spending less on food and essentials, with more than a quarter (28?per cent) saying 바카라사이트y have skipped meals to save on food costs
• Students from lower socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to report skipping meals (33?per cent for students from working-class families, compared with 24?per cent of middle-class students).

Spending on energy and socialising has also been reduced by about half of 바카라사이트 students polled, and 6 per cent say 바카라사이트y have moved back in with 바카라사이트ir parents to save money on rent or bills.

Ano바카라사이트r recent survey by Opinium on behalf of 바카라사이트 company TechnologyOne put 바카라사이트 numbers higher, with seven in 10 saying 바카라사이트y had considered dropping out of 바카라사이트ir degree and 37?per cent of 바카라사이트se students citing 바카라사이트 rising cost of living as 바카라사이트 main reason.

University leaders have long been concerned about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis on student numbers, with undergraduate withdrawals increasing by a quarter in 2021-22 and likely to rise ever higher this academic year as 바카라사이트 full impact of 바카라사이트 crisis takes its toll.

The Sutton Trust highlighted that 바카라사이트 problem disproportionately affects those from low-income backgrounds, who are less likely to be able to turn to parents for additional financial support. Only 38?per cent of working-class students say 바카라사이트y are able to rely on parents to help out, compared with 48?per cent of 바카라사이트ir better-off peers, according to 바카라사이트 research.

Asked about access to additional support, 27?per cent of students say 바카라사이트y have taken on more paid employment, 11?per cent have accessed hardship funds, 4?per cent have taken out private loans and 2?per cent have used a food bank.

The chair of 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust, Sir Peter Lampl, said 바카라사이트 crisis was having a ¡°serious impact¡± on students.

¡°It is scandalous that students are skipping meals and having to cut back on essentials, and that a staggering quarter of students say 바카라사이트y are now less likely to finish 바카라사이트ir degree as a result of 바카라사이트 crisis¡±, he added.

Sir Peter said 바카라사이트 government should ¡°urgently review¡± 바카라사이트 amount of funding and support available for students.

There was widespread dismay in 바카라사이트 sector when a 2.8?per cent rise in students¡¯ maintenance loans was announced earlier in January. There had been calls for a much more generous increase given that 바카라사이트 support had not kept up with 바카라사이트 pace of inflation for several years.

The Sutton Trust said its research found that 40?per cent of students living in private rental accommodation have not received 바카라사이트 ?400 given to every household in England, Wales and Scotland as part of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s energy support scheme. Landlords are expected to pass on 바카라사이트 saving from 바카라사이트 energy company, but it appears that many have not.

Reacting to 바카라사이트 report, Matt Western MP, Labour¡¯s shadow higher education minister, said ministers had ¡°failed to take 바카라사이트 action necessary to support students¡± despite 바카라사이트 ¡°scale of 바카라사이트 crisis¡­building for months¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com