Uni in foodbank request despite surplus of £58m
THE University of Birmingham has been criticised for asking staff to make foodbank donations for hard-up students despite having a budget surplus of £58m.
Unison described the move as ‘deeply concerning’ and called on the university to ‘spread its wealth’ amid the cost of living crisis.
Staff were encouraged by email to donate to a community pantry set up by the university’s Guild of Students. It is designed to help students struggling with the cost of living crisis.
But the most recent financial accounts for 2020/21 showed the UoB had a budget surplus of £58m. It had £172m in “cash and cash equivalents”.
“While this is a genuine and community spirited initiative that staff will respond energetically to, the very fact this is warranted is deeply concerning,” Mike Moore, the joint secretary of Birmingham’s Unison branch said.
“No member of the university, staff or student, should be relying on foodbanks – our own branch has recently been accepted as a referring organisation by the Trussell Trust precisely because many of our low paid members are also struggling.”
He added: “We are in talks with the university at present that could lead to significant improvement in support staff pay, and this only underlines the urgency of this. The university generates a healthy, multi-million pound surplus every year, some of which comes from the sale of food on campus at commercial rates.
“At a time of hardship and austerity, it’s time UoB looked to its civic roots and shared its prosperity with all those on campus. The university and the student union itself should become accredited living wage employers (which would also help support casual student workers) and look at the provision of subsidised food as well, rather than solely relying on philanthropy.”
The university said it had given £10m in hardship payments to students this academic year.
It said it provides “microawards in the form of supermarket vouchers for students with immediate support needs.”
A spokesman for the University of Birmingham said: “Both the University of Birmingham and the University of Birmingham’s Guild of Students recognise the increased financial challenges students are facing this year and we are working together to offer additional support.
“The university’s wellbeing teams are available to offer advice, support and information to any student who is struggling, in parallel with the Guild advice team which includes a dedicated money adviser.
“The university increased rental levels this year, in its own accommodation, below the rate of inflation and offers a range of accommodation at different price points – all of which are fully inclusive of utility costs, increases to which are not being passed along to students in year.”
The spokesperson said the university took part in the “Too Good to Go” initiative – with offers discounts on food which is about to expire – with its campus food outlets.
“We have introduced a range of affordable meal deal options for students and staff in campus outlets, and we have made additional microwaves available for everyone, who would be welcome to bring their own food from home to eat in any of our social and retail spaces,” a spokesperson added.
At a time of hardship and austerity, it’s time UoB looked to its civic roots and shared its prosperity with all those on campus Unison