Food bank set up for students at university

A UNIVERSITY has opened a food bank to offer support to those who admitted struggling to to buy food because of rising rents.

The Give or Take food bank scheme is run by the Leeds Beckett University’s Students’ Union and volunteers.

Charlie Hind, union affairs officer, said some students were struggling because they had to pay up to 80 per cent of their outgoings on rent. He said: “We set up this food bank because unfortunately this is something that is becoming needed these days. We are seeing a lot of students that are having to pay up to 80 per cent or sometimes more on rent.

“When we opened we almost didn’t want to celebrate because it’s a bad thing.

“Hopefully in a few years’ time we can close down the food bank because the students won’t need it anymore.”

Meanwhile, the Students’

Union is also encouraging students to open up about their finances.

Money worries can have a negative affect on success, the union says, and could put them at a disadvantage academically.

Its opening comes after it was reported how there has been a surge in the number of people accessing food banks across the city of Leeds.

Sherry Iqbal, the union’s education officer, said: “This food bank is incredibly important.

“Students have paid a lot of money to come to university and by not being able to afford to live is going to impact their ability to focus in lectures.

“It can massively impact your studies if you are not eating the right kind of food or if you are not eating at all.”

The Give or Take food bank is open every Wednesday and Friday from noon and 2pm at the Leeds Beckett City campus.

A spokesperson for Leeds Beckett University said: “We recognise that from time to time students can face financial challenges. We will continue to work with the Student Union to meet the needs of our diverse student population.”

Between April and September last year 47,772 food supplies were provided to people by the Trussell Trust to people in Yorkshire and the Humber.