The announcement by the UK government to support students facing financial struggles as a result of the pandemic
The UK government has announced to provide an additional £50m to support university students, including international students, impacted by Covid-19.
The additional funds for this financial year mean that universities will be able to help students impacted by the pandemic, such as those facing additional costs for alternative accommodation, loss of employment, or extra costs as a result of access to their online lessons.
Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said in his statement:
“Financial hardship has been a growing problem throughout this pandemic, significantly affecting students’ mental health and their chances of progression. The government’s recognition of this through a further £50 million of funding is a positive step, and universities will do all they can to ensure the funding reaches the students most in need.”
The survey from NUS (National Union of Students) conducted in November 2020 with responses from over 400 students revealed that 73 % of students were concerned with regards to managing finances during the pandemic and about 9 % used Foodbanks to source their meals from.
NUS National President Larissa Kennedy said that the news about the additional funds was a result of the hard work and campaigning of students and unions about the hardship of students that pandemic brought.
The Office for Students will allocate the funding directly to universities. Thereafter, the funding will be distributed by universities locally that will be able to prioritise the funds to those students who are the most in need of help.
The UK government also stated that it appreciated that many universities and accommodation providers offer rebates or partial refunds for unused accommodation to students and asked that the rental policies are set with the students’ wellbeing and interests in mind.
The government will monitor the situation and the results of funding. The students who struggle financially due to Covid-19 should contact directly their university or HE provider to receive help.
These times continue to be very challenging for students and the pressure has had an impact on the mental health and wellbeing of many students and university and higher education staff. The financial support might be helpful but the struggles of students such as high rent and access to student accommodation should be addressed regardless.
