Lancaster University: Students unable to afford food for days, union says

Lancaster University students are facing food insecurity amid the cost-of-living crisis, according to the university's student union president Cerys Evans.

Many can't afford meals, with the campus supper club distributing 500 meals in three weeks. The university has boosted funding for those in need, while the Department for Education has increased loans, grants, and frozen tuition fees.

Evans highlighted the issue on BBC Radio Lancashire and BBC Question Time, noting students’ struggles with food, heating, and mental health due to financial pressures.

The university is accommodating some students at last year’s housing rates and recognizes the broader impact of rising living costs. An additional £10 million has been allocated by the government to support students' financial and mental well-being, targeting aid towards those from low-income families.