One in four UK universities now running a food bank

More than a quarter of UK universities are operating food banks, according to new findings from the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi).

In a report published on 14 September, Hepi warns that students are facing a “cost-of-learning crisis” and urges all providers to establish dedicated working groups to lead the response.

Examining the websites of the 140 members of Universities UK, researchers found that half were offering discounts for food and drink, 33 per cent were giving away free meals, and 11 per cent were giving out food vouchers.

More than a quarter (27 per cent) were operating a food bank – which, like all the statistics, Hepi said was likely to be an underestimate.

And this figure was likely dragged down by London, where just 11 per cent run food banks, because many other community groups already fulfil that need.

By contrast, rates were much higher outside the capital, with 63 per cent of universities in Wales, 50 per cent in the south west, and 40 per cent in the north east and south east offering emergency food help.

“No one expects to need a food bank before they go to university and I think it’s more about helping and enabling current students when they need it,” Josh Freeman, policy manager at Hepi, told Times Higher Education.

“But I do think that it is very possible that students might be drawn towards certain universities which seem to offer a lot of support.”

There are also growing discrepancies across the UK in terms of government support offered to students – with Wales already increasing its maintenance loan in line with inflation, and Scotland and Northern Ireland set for uplifts.

“If things continue it’s likely that England will be the one left behind,” said Mr Freeman.

“There are certain situations in England which warrant special attention.

“The £25,000 threshold for family income below which people receive the maximum hasn’t changed for a long time and that means the number of people who are able to access it is decreasing fast.”

The report found that maximum university hardship funds ranged from £350 to £5,000 in 2022-23 – with £2,470 the average.

“Universities are doing an enormous amount to help students,” said Mr Freeman.

“They are like miniature welfare states at the moment in the sense that they have hardship funds, they have food discounts, they are offering part-time jobs, and advertising part-time jobs.”

However, he said their assistance is “incomplete” – noting that hardship funds are often very bureaucratic, difficult to apply to and take time to receive.

The report shows that many universities expressly support their students with finding a part-time job, but this was in “marked contrast to the attitude of universities such as Oxford and Cambridge which strongly discourage students from working during term-time”.

Mr Freeman also warned that young people being put off from applying to university could have both policy implications for the sector, and be a risk to social mobility.

Hepi recommends all universities set up a cost-of-living working group, streamline their hardship fund, launch an emergency fund, and include students throughout their cost-of-living response.

And it calls on Westminster to establish a cost-of-living task force, and urgently review the level of maintenance support it provides.

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com