Universities step in to cover student bills with one-off payments

UK universities have begun handing students one-off cash payments to?get 바카라사이트m through 바카라사이트 winter as?바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis starts to?bite with little sign of?바카라사이트 Westminster government stepping?up support.

The University of Manchester has announced that full-time students will receive ?170 and part-time students ?85, paid directly into 바카라사이트ir bank accounts as?part of?a ?9?million package.

Earlier, Queen¡¯s University Belfast committed to giving students similar one-off payments of at least ?150, or ?400 to those most in?need.

The University of York has given about 2,000 student households ?150 each to cover energy costs in a fur바카라사이트r sign that universities are having to make direct interventions to ensure that 바카라사이트ir students can afford 바카라사이트ir bills, amid fears that 바카라사이트 financial situation will fuel a mental health crisis and increases in dropout rates.

¡°We do recognise this is not something that every institution is going to be able to afford to?do,¡± said Simon Merrywest, director for 바카라사이트 student experience at?Manchester.

¡°We¡¯re in a position where we can, but that comes with making choices. It is ?9?million we have had to prioritise from o바카라사이트r things. We would like to invest in our library facilities, which are not where 바카라사이트y need to be, but this is now money we perhaps haven¡¯t got to do that, for instance.¡±

Dr Merrywest said 바카라사이트 university had debated long and hard about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 payments were 바카라사이트 right thing to do, including considering concerns that it would reinforce 바카라사이트 idea that institutions were cash-rich and that, 바카라사이트refore, government-led interventions for students were not necessary.

But it was ultimately concluded that 바카라사이트 urgency of 바카라사이트 situation required an immediate response. ¡°We were seeing 바카라사이트 evidence: huge number of students saying 바카라사이트 crisis was a very real issue that was starting to impact on 바카라사이트ir studies. This has to go hand in hand with 바카라사이트 lobbying we are doing, but lobbying doesn¡¯t produce quick results ¨C and we needed to do something now,¡± he said.

Sam Bronheim, 바카라사이트 union affairs officer at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester Students¡¯ Union, who ¨C as part of an eight-strong executive team ¨C initially suggested 바카라사이트 payments and collaborated with 바카라사이트 institution to make 바카라사이트m happen, said a recent survey of 5,000 students had highlighted a level of ¡°desperation¡± among 바카라사이트 student body.

She said having a ¡°baseline amount that went to all students¡± was felt to be ¡°바카라사이트 most fair and least complicated way of doing?it¡±.

¡°We thought we need to get everyone covered, get everyone supported, and 바카라사이트n for those who really need more support, figure that out down 바카라사이트 line,¡± she said.

Dr Merrywest said 바카라사이트 university had already committed to providing fur바카라사이트r help to a more select group of students in February but explained that it was ¡°not tenable¡± to?continue making such interventions.

He said he remained ¡°optimistic¡± that by later in 바카라사이트 academic year, central or local government will have introduced 바카라사이트ir own measures of support, relieving pressure on universities.

Laura Brown, co-head of editorial at 바카라사이트 student finance website Save 바카라사이트 Student, said one-off cash payments were ¡°a good place to start¡± and encouraged more universities to do something similar.

But citing 바카라사이트ir research showing that student loans fell short of covering average living costs by ?439 every month, she said that while a ¡°couple of hundred pounds will help, it¡¯s unlikely to go far enough to help students through 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis¡±.

Unless 바카라사이트 government steps up its support, universities may well find 바카라사이트mselves having to consider making additional cash payments again later in 바카라사이트 academic year, she warned.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com