Last term, 1,300 students a month benefitted from discounted meals and a student pantry on campus, measures put in place to support those struggling most during the rising cost of living.
Now, Newcastle University is asking you, its generous alumni community, to help ensure these vital provisions are available in September too.
With the help of our generous donor community, Newcastle University has been able to provide additional support to its students in the past academic year as they see food and energy bills rise on an unprecedented level.
This includes a free-to-access ‘Student Pantry’ stocked with cooking basics, toiletries and sanitary products in the Students’ Union, and £1 hot and healthy meals at outlets across campus. Both of these additional support measures were made possible thanks to donations to the Newcastle Student Fund.
Recent inflation has seen student cupboard staples rise considerably and student budgets are being stretched to the limit. Cheese and egg prices are up by over 37% and beans up 41% (UK Office for National Statistics, shopping prices comparison tool (April 2023)). On top of this, private rent in Newcastle is rising at an alarming rate – by nearly 10% in the last three years (BBC March 2023).
Come September, more students than ever before are going to need help to buy groceries and cover basic living costs. That’s why Newcastle University has launched a summer appeal for the Newcastle Student Fund, calling on its 250,000-strong alumni community to support the next generation of graduates.
A donation of £100 will buy a Newcastle student a warm, nutritious breakfast every morning for a whole term – setting them up for a day of learning and thriving on campus.
A recent survey has shown that 1 in 4 students regularly go without food and other necessities because they cannot afford them. And students from the most socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are suffering more, with over 30% going without (Russell Group Cost of Living Survey (March 2023)).
Magdalena is a Biomedical Sciences undergraduate who has benefitted from the subsidised meals on campus programme. She said:
“Knowing that there is a food pantry on campus that I could rely on when money is tight to help with my shopping basics is a massive stress reliever. With rent and other bills ever increasing, you never know when you might need to rely on it and sadly many students do need to use it.
"Knowing our alumni community is supporting this much needed initiative and subsidising meals on campus means everything. It’s heartening to know our alumni are invested in students like me."
How you can support students like Magdalena
Please consider making a donation online to ensure lifelines like the Student Pantry and £1 meals can continue next academic year. Your donation will help future generations of Newcastle graduates reach their potential and make the most of their university experience, overcoming the barriers caused by the rising cost of living.
We know that times are tough for everyone right now, and so if you are unable to give financially at the moment, please consider sharing this appeal on your social media to help us reach as many people as possible. Thank you.