Cost of Living Support at Salford
USSU has been collaborating with university support teams to refine the cost-of-living support offer for the current academic year. Simeon Anyalemechi, USSU President, has been leading these discussions with the University on behalf of the Student Officer team.
The priorities have been to review the last year’s interventions, and to expand the number of students receiving targeted support. Simeon's primary focus has been on supporting specific groups, including parents with childcare responsibilities, international students with disabilities (who do not have access the Disabled Students Allowance), and students spending considerable time and money commuting to university.
The University’s budget for cost-of-living interventions has reduced both because of a change in government support, and a reduction in the University’s contribution to the overall budget, reducing the total amount available to spend. Despite this, through a collaborative effort with the university, Simeon successfully implemented targeted support for the academic year 2023/24.
In Simeon's words, "We've taken a significant step forward in ensuring support reaches those who need it the most. However, I acknowledge it's not perfect! I am continually working on this, so please feel free to share any feedback on the existing support or suggest ideas for additional assistance."
If you have any feedback regarding the cost-of-living support at the University for this academic year, please complete the anonymous feedback form.
If you find yourself in need of extra assistance during the Cost-of-Living crisis, don't hesitate to contact the USSU Advice Centre. They can provide support in areas such as Benefits Advice, Housing Guidance, Food Vouchers, and Academic Support. For inquiries about Budgeting Advice, Hardship Funding, or questions related to bursaries, feel free to reach out to the University AskUs team.
More Articles...
