Bucks Uni offers free meals to students to ease financial pressures
The scheme was introduced a year ago and is being brought back
Last updated 18th Jan 2024
With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, students are feeling the pinch and are often having to choose between heating and eating.
To ease pressures, the Students' Union at Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) is offering students, regardless of background or eligibility, up to three free meals a week.
The CEO of the Students' Union at BNU, Tristan Tipping, said: "About a year ago, we were noticing more and more the impact of the cost-of-living on students and their ability to study and get through university life successfully."
"We just wanted to do something to support them."
"...some of our students were talking about only eating once a day and having to manage the travel cost, increased cost of rent, not being able to put the heating on."
The university already offers a range of activities free of charge to its students, when other students unions across the country may demand a small membership fee.
Buckinghamshire New University prides itself in its range of offerings, which has placed its Students' Union at the top of the ranking for many years.
Among those offerings, subsidised by the University, are cheaper meals in all university cafeterias, cafes, bars and restaurants, and the newly implemented free meals.
Mr TIpping said: "We've all felt the pinch of the cost-of-living, and some of our students were talking about only eating once a day and having to manage the travel cost, increased cost of rent, not being able to put the heating on."
"There's only so many things we can help them with but the price of food is something we were able to turn around fairly quickly."
"They can sit in the warm without having to worry about the cost of it and it's getting them out of their rooms and socialising, and there's no stigma or barrier."
"...they come from less privileged backgrounds and they're taking a huge gamble and investment to come to university."
BNU, based in High Wycombe, is a relatively small university in a smaller town, compared to other higher education institutions across the country.
For Mr Tipping, this allows the Students' Union to create a real community with its students, who often come from more precarious backgrounds.
He said: "Quite often, although not exclusively, they come from less privileged backgrounds and they're taking a huge gamble and investment to come to university."
"It really shouldn't be such a huge financial struggle for them to complete their studies."
The University dedicates a portion of fees pay by students to support its Students' Union.