£1m support for Exeter students

THE University of Exeter has distributed £1 million in hardship and emergency funding to students most significantly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The financial support, which has been available since the first lockdown last year, is helping those most in need to continue studying.

The funding for students started as an emergency scheme. It evolved into the current

Success For All fund at the beginning of the autumn term. Funding is fast-tracked for those on the lowest household incomes, and includes emergency funding, ongoing support for students facing continued hardship, and IT bursaries to buy computer equipment for students facing digital poverty.

The money has been used to pay for accommodation, bills and groceries. Students have faced hardship because of loss of employment and the end of financial support from parents and carers, as well as additional costs in relation to coronavirus.

More than 1,000 payments have been made from the scheme, which is partly funded through the generosity of University of Exeter alumni and a gift from Santander Universities UK in addition to core university funds.

In a survey of recipients after the first lockdown, 82 % said the help was very important in helping them to continue their studies and 46 % believed receiving financial help had prevented them from becoming homeless.

Nicola Sinclair, head of widening participation and UK student recruitment at the university, said: “The fund has offered a financial lifeline for students, and is helping to improve their material wellbeing and mental health and ability to study.”

One student said that the fund saved them from “being homeless and starving.”