Mature students more likely to seek food bank help at Cambridgeshire university
1 in 10 universities are handing out food bank vouchers, a report's found
With more than a quarter of universities running a food bank service, some students in Cambridgeshire are finding it tough to get help.
A report from the Higher Education Policy Institute also found 1 in 10 universities are giving out food bank vouchers.
The report was based on an audit of Universities UK's 140 members to see how they are supporting students.
The HEPI's findings showed 27% were operating a food bank while more than half were offering food discounts.
Liz Knight is the academic director of University Centre Peterborough:
“There is a gap and hardship that occurs during the summer period," she said.
"I think some of the younger students have more opportunity to work, but for those students who are mature and have young families, I think it’s a particularly difficult time.
“We do where we can if we think people could review their financial planning.
"But it’s very hard when you know students have very little to start to criticise where they are allocating the small amount of funds they have."
A third of Russell Group universities - which includes the University of Cambridge - were operating a food bank compared with 26% of other universities.
The HEPI has called on all universities to establish similar working groups, launch emergency funds and include students throughout their cost-of-living response.
'Very difficult' for universities to help students in need
University Centre Peterborough say less than 1% of students use its food bank service compared to its other hardship support services.
Kat Beeton, HE student support coordinator and officer at University Centre Peterborough, believes universities in general are facing a challenging time.
"The ones (students) we've seen more recently accessing the food bank have been mature students with families, and other students who haven't accessed the food bank tend to find there's a huge stigma attached to that," she said.
"It's very difficult for universities; they're running out of provision they can provide for their students.
"We have seen a massive rise in issues because of the cost of living, so we have seen an uptake in our other provisions."