Student hardship

The number of students who need financial support is rising due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. The combined cost of food, energy, travel, and accommodation is one of the most pressing issues our students are facing on campus today.

A recent survey by the Greenwich Students’ Union found that:

• 30% of students said that their income does not cover essential living costs.
• 50% of students have less than £50 expendable income after essentials have been paid for.
• 6 out of 10 students rely on their families for financial support.

Last year, we received thousands of applications to support students facing hardship. We were not able to support all of the students who applied through donations. There are hundreds more we could help with your support.

With your help, we’ve already offered an additional £10,000 to fund the food voucher scheme which provides students in need with a £20 food voucher. Your donation will help an additional 500 students. Through the newly launch Annual Fund, your donations will go further and help students with essential living costs and provide emergency assistance to students in crisis.

Here are some of the ways your donation might be used to help students in need:

• £50 could provide a student with emergency funding for groceries.
• £100 could help a student with study cost, such as books at the start of the year, course materials or stationery.
• £250 could provide a student with breakfast on campus for a term.
• £500 could support a student who is a parent with childcare costs so they can continue to study.
• £1,000 could help a student continue their education despite financial hardship.

For students with limited resources, any unexpected cost can land them in genuine financial hardship. Whatever your gift size, through the combined donations to the Annual Fund, you will make a demonstrable impact and directly support students in need, helping them overcome short-term financial crises and stay on track.