Food insecurity: How students are coping with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis

Every day since the September term began, Nicholova, an environmental law student, has depended on a food kitchen as an essential lifeline. "I think that's basically what allowed me to get through the month without falling behind on my payments." This unsettling reality sheds light on the hidden struggle endured by students who, despite pursuing higher education, find themselves grappling with financial insecurity and the need to seek external support to meet their most basic needs.

Last year, The Northern Echo reported on the distressing reality faced by numerous students who found themselves compelled to turn to food banks to navigate their living expenses. These findings align with the recently published yearly review by The Trussell Trust, revealing a staggering statistic: their network of food banks distributed an unprecedented number of nearly three million emergency food parcels in a single year, the highest ever. Such figures reflect a concerning trend and highlight the pressing need for greater support to address the growing food insecurity among the population. This shared experience is not unique to Nicholova.

Libby, a 19-year-old student, shared her struggles, saying, "I am now up to working four nights a week and still struggling." She revealed that she currently rents a small room in the N7 area of London, which surprisingly costs more than her family's four-bedroom house in northern England. Libby explained the food kitchen had been helping her save money: "Little things like here and there saving me five pounds here helps out."

The personal experiences of Nicholova and Libby shed light on the dire circumstances many university students face. Their stories echo the findings of a recent Office of National Statistics report, which delved into the Student's Cost of Living Insights Study. In this study, 1,964 higher education students in England participated, revealing that 5% of them now rely on food banks, marking a 1% increase compared with the previous year.

This corroborates a separate study conducted by the National Union of Students, which involved 3,500 university students and unveiled a staggering rise in food bank usage from 5% in January 2022 to 11% in June 2022. These statistics demonstrate the increasing financial strain experienced by students and the urgent need for comprehensive support systems to address their escalating hardships.

UNVEILING THE NUMBERS: INSIGHTS AND DATA ON STUDENT WELFARE AND THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS

INTERVIEW INSIGHTS: IMPACT OF THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS - A CONVERSATION WITH FOOD FOR ALL

Liv and Nicholova utilized the services of a temporary food kitchen set up by Food For All. The charity operates a temporary food kitchen, providing vital support to those in need. This volunteer-run charitable organisation offers nutritious and sustainable meals, not only in London but also internationally, including in Turkey and Ukraine.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Food For All played a crucial role on the streets of London, earning them the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of their exceptional efforts.

Over the years, Food For All has had the privilege of engaging with notable figures such as comedian Russell Brand and singers Liam Payne and Pete Doherty.

Recently, Peter O'Grady, pictured below, the director of Food For All, shared insights into his 35-year commitment to addressing food insecurity and discussed the organisation's dedication to providing meals to students.

What is the experience of students using food banks?

"Students are really struggling. In London, consider the accommodation cost when you're a student. Unless you squat in some building, you probably have to pay a fortune, and your uni fees are a fortune. By the time you leave uni, you're not only poor, you're about 60 grand in debt, and it's not like someone gave you 60 grand for free. Actually, you're less than poor, you know, and you have a certain life now.

"You go to the student canteen, and everything's overpriced, and there's no ethics involved in the food, you know, and who can afford it? And these students want a simple, healthy, and good meal for a reasonable price.

"It's the universities, and they don't give a damn. No ethics whatsoever, they're just looking for money."

What does Food For All do for students?

"So, we can do 8,000 meals a day. During covid, we were doing 5,000 meals a day. We offer healthy meal options that cater to dietary restrictions such as vegetarian, vegan, and religious dietary requirements. Everybody eats healthy meals. We divert food from going to landfill. So much food gets chucked away, and we can easily be doing a big community meal bringing the community together. We're doing 2,000 meals today, but we could be doing a lot more."

How does Food For All engage with students?

"People don't want to queue up at a food bank. You know, you only get a few cans of beans. Anyway, you know, it makes them feel bad. No, no. This is sharing of a meal. Nobody should feel bad about sharing a meal.

"We're not presenting it as a charity because people have stigmatized charity. We act as a community meal. People say: 'Well, my parents have some money, let some homeless guy have that meal.' I'm feeding already people experiencing homelessness anyway. So this is a representative of an environmental initiative. If you eat the food, you're saving the environment."

FROM SLICING TO SERVING: THE STEP-BY-STEP JOURNEY OF A POP-UP FOOD KITCHEN FEEDING HOPE AMIDST STUDENT FOOD INSECURITY

(FT FOOD FOR ALL)

ADDRESSING THE CRISIS: NUS AND OFFICE FOR STUDENTS RESPOND TO FOOD INSECURITY AND THE SOARING COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS

The National Union Of Students

The National Union of Students (NUS) is a prominent organization dedicated to supporting and advocating student welfare and rights across the country. In a recent conversation, an NUS representative highlighted the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on students:

"It is undeniably clear that the cost-of-living crisis is significantly impacting students, and this should raise concerns within the government and wider society. We rely on trained graduates to enter the workforce as future doctors, nurses, and public sector workers. It is scandalous that so many students may be unable to reach their full potential due to the government's inadequate response to this crisis."

The representative emphasized the need for immediate action:

"The government must implement a tailored support package to address the cost of living for students, ensuring that student support and maintenance loans keep up with inflation. To combat the escalating housing costs, measures such as a rent freeze followed by rent controls are necessary. Every student who works while studying deserves fair working conditions, access to strong trade unions, and appropriate wages. This includes apprentices, who currently face an unreasonably low minimum wage of £4.81 per hour. Education plays a crucial role in building a thriving society, and the government must take steps to ensure that students not only survive but also thrive in their educational pursuits."

Looking ahead, the NUS representative called for comprehensive reforms:

"Moving forward, we urgently require a fundamental overhaul of the failed Higher Education funding model, particularly a return to grants instead of loans."

The Office for Students

The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator for higher education institutions in England, responsible for maintaining quality standards, promoting equal opportunities, and safeguarding student interests. Through its role in distributing funding, monitoring institutional performance, and advocating student welfare, the OfS plays a vital role in ensuring a fair and high-quality educational experience for students. John Blake, Director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students (OfS), said in a statement:

"We recognise that increasing food, energy and living costs are a serious concern for students. We have distributed £276million in hardship funding to universities and colleges to ensure that the most affected students can receive the support they need. As well as hosting roundtable events to discuss the impact of the cost of living, we continue to work closely with universities and colleges to better understand how these issues are specifically affecting students.

"Our equality of opportunity risk register sets out risks universities and colleges need to consider in their access and participation plans. The register highlights the importance of supporting students facing financial pressures as well as those in receipt of hardship funds. Evaluation in this work to determine effective practice is crucial so that all students can succeed in their chosen path.

"Many universities and colleges are providing innovative support measures, and we encourage the sector to continue to share effective ways of supporting students through these challenging times."