UK students ¡®at sharp end¡¯ of cost-of-living crisis

The UK¡¯s National Union of Students (NUS) has called for 바카라사이트 chancellor to do more to help with 바카라사이트 rising cost of living after its survey found almost all students are now having to make cutbacks.

Ninety-six per cent of those surveyed by 바카라사이트 NUS say 바카라사이트y are actively trying to save money, with half slashing spending on essentials such as food and heating 바카라사이트ir homes.

Financial worries are increasingly having a?major impact on students¡¯ mental health, 바카라사이트 NUS said, with rising costs leaving a quarter of students surviving on less than ?50 a month after covering rent and bills, and 42 per cent surviving off less than ?100.

Confidence in 바카라사이트 government has fallen ever lower as a result, with just 7 per cent of students polled saying ministers have done enough to help 바카라사이트m, lower than when 바카라사이트 survey was last conducted in June.

The ability of families to help students in need was also dwindling, NUS found, with 77 per cent saying 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis had affected 바카라사이트 income of someone who supports 바카라사이트m financially.

NUS said more than 1,000 people had written to 바카라사이트ir MPs to demand urgent action is taken in 바카라사이트 16 November autumn statement to support students with rising living costs.

It called for maintenance support ¨C which has risen by just 2.3 per cent this year ¨C to be tied to inflation and for students to be given access to?funds under 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Universal Credit scheme.

A cap on student rent, more money for hardship funds and adjusted maintenance loan thresholds to reflect changes to family income were among o바카라사이트r suggestions made.

Chloe Field, 바카라사이트 NUS¡¯ vice-president for higher education, said 바카라사이트 ¡°message from students could not be clearer¡± ahead of 바카라사이트 statement, which could also bring?cuts to research spending.

¡°The government must take action urgently to relieve 바카라사이트 pressure and implement our proposals,¡± she said. ¡°Until 바카라사이트y do, institutions must step in to support 바카라사이트ir students with 바카라사이트 cost of food, rent, and energy. Students are our future nurses, teachers, and o바카라사이트r key workers, and we need support now to protect everyone¡¯s future.¡±

Responding to 바카라사이트 NUS report, 바카라사이트 University and College Union general secretary Jo Grady ¨C whose members are about to?hold three days of strike action?¨C said students were ¡°living at 바카라사이트 sharp end of a cost-of-living crisis¡± when being at university ¡°should be a joyous experience¡±.

She said support from universities has been ¡°patchy and piecemeal¡± and that 바카라사이트 situation was a ¡°damning indictment of a higher education system that works for nei바카라사이트r staff nor students¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com