18 October 2022

Dear Students, 

I do hope that the first few weeks of term have gone well. I wrote to you two weeks ago setting out the measures we had put in place to support you during the current Cost of Living crisis. I know that this is a time of financial uncertainty, and that this can cause us all to feel concerned, even anxious at times. We have therefore continued working on the development of a further package of support with your representatives from the Students’ Union in Cornwall and the Students’ Guild in Exeter, and I would like to extend my sincere thanks for their leadership and support on this issue. Last week I took these proposals to the University’s Council and I am pleased to say that these were approved.

My last message set out the help we have already put in place and below I am outlining the additional ways in which we will support you this year

• At the heart of these measures is a one-off winter payment of £150, which will be paid to undergraduate home fee-paying students who have a declared annual household income of less than £30,000. These payments will be made automatically to eligible students.
• All students, including those who have received the winter payment, can apply for additional support via our Hardship Fund, which may provide help if you are experiencing unexpected financial difficulties, or are unable to cover essential costs throughout the year. The Fund also offers specific bursaries including an IT bursary to help financially if you are struggling to afford computer equipment and support if you are unable to afford to pay for a diagnostic assessment (e.g. for Dyslexia). As mentioned in my previous email to you, we have added an additional £1 million to the Hardship Fund to increase the level of support we can provide this year.
• The new package of support also includes measures to help you minimise your costs, for example, to ensure we always have a low-cost hot meal available for you on our campuses, a range of low-cost food options in our shops and warm places to go on campus to help if you are trying to save costs on fuel.
• We have committed to the 13% rise in the PhD Stipend, having lobbied the UKRI to do the same. We have also added a further £250,000 to our Hardship Fund to provide support for self-funded PhD students who now find they are struggling financially.  
• We are continuing to support the Students’ Union and the Students’ Guild in the provision of free sanitary products across all our campuses
• Free healthy snacks are being introduced to our Hubs and Info Points
• We understand how important it is to stay active, particularly to manage wellbeing, and so we have made available various free and low cost sports and gym sessions.  The Student Guild has also extended its ‘Give it a Go’ scheme to enable you to try new activities at low cost.

Throughout this process we’ve been working very closely with your representatives from the Students’ Union in Cornwall and Students’ Guild in Exeter. We are all united in our desire to do what we can to help you at this time. Our Cost of Living Task Force continues to meet weekly to seek additional ways to offer support and I, and the senior leaders at the University, receive regular updates from them. We are also working on a package of support for University staff, who also face challenges, and we hope to be able to share details with them soon.

• Remember that financial difficulties are also now included as a reason for seeking mitigation, for this academic year. You can read more about that change of policy on our web pages.
  
  
• We’re working with the UK’s leading debt advice charity, Step Change, to provide you with free, impartial and personalised support for your money and debt worries. You can get help from them in the following ways:

Online: use the online debt help tool to get advice now.

By phone: call 0800 138 1111. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am-8pm, and Saturdays 8am to 4pm. Please use their budget form before calling.

• You can get in touch with the brilliant Students’ Union Advice Team  run by the Students’ Union. They are here to offer support.

Keeping in touch

We will continue to update you throughout this term. Don’t forget that we have a dedicated webpage which details our initiatives and the support you can get, from financial help to offers on our campuses. Do keep checking back as the page is updated regularly. We are also sharing updates via our weekly University Updates and our social media channels.

If you think there are other ways in which the University may be able to offer additional support, please share these with your representatives in the Students’ Union in Cornwall  (via this page www.thesu.org.uk/welfare/costofliving/).

Your wellbeing

If your finances are affecting your mental wellbeing, please do get in touch with our wellbeing service for support and guidance; they are here to help. You can reach them here. 

I know this is a worrying time but we will continue to look for ways in which we can support you. 

Best wishes,

Lisa

Professor Lisa Roberts

Vice-Chancellor

Previous messages from the Vice-Chancellor 

Message from the Vice-Chancellor 6 October 2022

29 May

Looking for summer work?

Check out Career Zone and follow the Career Zone Instagram for casual and part-time jobs and paid internships open to our students and recent graduates. If you’re looking for advice, the Career Zone can help you at every stage, and you can find more job opportunities on Handshake.

Consider a job in care this Summer

Could you support people to live as independently as possible, whether it’s in a care home or helping people in their own homes? Proud to Care Cornwall is currently advertising part-time and full-time roles on their website, where you can also find out more about what it’s like to work in care and the different sorts of roles available. There is also a Proud to Care Cornwall podcast where training and recruitment specialist Michaela Gill talks about her journey through the care sector, sharing the challenges and the rewards.

Get a refund on your TV licence

When you finish Uni for the year, you could be due a refund on the months you’ve still got left on your TV licence – up to £48.50. See whether you’re eligible.

Financial Help

The Success for All Fund is there to help you if your financial situation is affecting your ability to study. It doesn’t need to be paid back and can help with the cost of things such as IT equipment, accommodation, travel, childcare, living costs, additional course costs and other unexpected outgoings. So, if your financial situation is affecting your ability to study, please apply for help through our Success for All Fund.

When you apply to the fund we’ll make an individual assessment based on your circumstances and a review of your supporting documentation. If successful, we’ll award you funds that contribute to the level of support you need.

Help and advice

If you need advice about budgeting and money, please book an appointment with your  Students’ Union Advice Team. The independent advisors can help you create a budget, apply to the Success for All hardship fund or consider the best ways to make your money work better for you. There's more details of support and advice available on these Cost of Living pages, and please get in touch with your SU Presidents  if you’d like to share any feedback or ideas.

22 May

Financial Help

The Success for All Fund is there to help you if your financial situation is affecting your ability to study. It doesn’t need to be paid back and can help with the cost of things such as IT equipment, accommodation, travel, childcare, living costs, additional course costs and other unexpected outgoings. So, if your financial situation is affecting your ability to study, please apply for help through our Success for All Fund.

When you apply to the fund we’ll make an individual assessment based on your circumstances and a review of your supporting documentation. If successful, we’ll award you funds that contribute to the level of support you need.

Free events at the Fish Factory arts space, Commercial Road, Penryn

Open Mic and free ramen

Sunday 28 May, and last Sunday of every month

1-4pm, acoustic, spoken word, electronic, experimental. All welcome.

Free community lunch

Tuesday 30 May, and last Tuesday of every month.

12-3pm, free tasty hot food and good company. Stay and eat or bring a container to take away.

More details on the Fish Factory arts space website

Too Good To Go app

Special offers are available on unsold food through the Too Good to Go app. The Penryn Campus shop and the Fox Cafe at Falmouth campus list offers on the app. For our Truro students, WHSmith in Royal Cornwall Hospital and Costa Coffee at Treliske Retail Park are also listed.

With Too Good To Go you can buy a 'magic bag' of goodies that are at the end of their use by, or best before dates. Bags cost around £3, and the usual price of the contents is around £10. So you're saving money while helping to reduce food waste. Items can be anything from sandwiches, to drinks and jars, and you won't know what you are going to get until you pick it up. There are other shops locally which are part of this scheme and publicise what they have to offer through the app. 

Bringing your own food to campus

At the Truro campus (the Knowledge Spa) the kitchen area in the newly refurbished common room area has free hot water, plus a microwave and fridge for your use.

At Penryn campus there are microwaves available for everyone's use upstairs in The Stannary and for Masters students, in the kitchen area outside the Masters Suite (opposite the Students’ Union office).

Help and advice

If you need advice about budgeting and money, please book an appointment with your  Students’ Union Advice Team. The independent advisors can help you create a budget, apply to the Success for All hardship fund or consider the best ways to make your money work better for you. There's more details of support and advice available on these Cost of Living pages, and please get in touch with your SU Presidents  if you’d like to share any feedback or ideas.

15 May

Share your experience of the Cost of Living crisis

The University’s Sustainable Futures MRes Student, Veronica White, is looking for participants for a project exploring how worries about accessing and affording food are impacting student life. If you are interested in taking part, you can find out more here.

New venue for the Swap Shop

The new Campus Swap Shop is where you can donate your reusable items or swap them for something new. Free and simple to use, the Swap Shop will run from Monday 15 - Friday 26 May now in the Exchange foyer.

The Swap Shop will accept almost anything, from electronics and kitchenware, to decorations, textbooks and more. They aren't too picky about what they collect, as long as it's in a good, reusable condition. The aim is to reduce waste, by helping students choose second-hand and save money, thus supporting keeping things circular and sustainable. If you have any questions or would like to get involved in running it, email sustainability@falmouth.ac.uk

2 May

Low cost food options

A daily low-cost food menu is available from The Stannary, for breakfast and lunch.

Prices range from £1.50 - £3

Plus, get 2 for 1 on coffees in The Stannary between 3pm and 5pm.

For the latest menus, news, events and offers, follow Food and Drink on campus on social media or see their website.

Instagram: @foodanddrinkoncampus

Facebook: @stannary

Twitter: @FalUoECatering

Help and advice

If you need advice about budgeting and money, please book an appointment with your Students’ Union Advice Team. The independent advisors can help you create a budget, apply to the Hardship fund or consider the best ways to make your money work better for you. There's more details of the support and advice on these pages, and please get in touch with your SU Presidents  if you’d like to share any feedback or ideas.

Whether you’re just starting out at University or are returning to your studies, we have some tips to help you keep on top of your money. 

1. Consider opening a student bank account. 

If you’re getting a maintenance loan you’ll need it to be paid into a bank account. Banks offer a range of different accounts with different benefits and incentives. Find out more about the types of account available at Money Helper or check out Money Saving Expert for their advice on choosing the best account for you.

2. Work out your budget

• Look at your money and how long it needs to last you. If you’re receiving a maintenance loan it will come in 3 termly instalments.
• Work out how much you need for all your essential contracted fixed costs, such as rent and your phone bill – make sure you can pay these first.
• Next how much do you need to live and study – for food, books and transport?
• Then look at what’s left for other things you want to do, and balance what you can afford.

The UCAS budget calculator may help you, or there are other free budgeting tools online.
And the Students’ Union can help you with budgeting advice.

3. Make sure you’re getting all you’re entitled to

Depending on your circumstances you may be eligible for extra financial support, bursaries or benefits. For example, if you have caring responsibilities, need help to join a society, or need additional equipment to support your learning, there may be extra money available to you. Find out more in our Success For All Fund FAQs or ask your Students’ Union Advice Service. 

4. Look out for deals and savings

Lots of places offer student discounts and special deals. Check out Save The Student for the latest deals and freebies out there. Consider shopping together with your housemates so you can make the most of 'Buy One Get One Free' deals and bulk buying economies of scale.

5. Up your income

Consider a part time job if you can fit it around your studies. Career Zone advertise part time jobs that can help you gain experience and earn money while studying. Save The Student has a whole host of other money making tips, from shopping on cashback sites to completing paid surveys.

6. Don’t be tempted to use loan sharks, illegal money lenders, or quick-money schemes that may not be legitimate

If you’re struggling you can apply to our Success for All Fund for help during your time at Exeter. 

7. Deal with your debt

Although it can be stressful, problems with debt only get worse if you ignore them. Talk to your creditors about your situation and try to negotiate an affordable payment plan. If you’re struggling with paying your tuition fees, or the rent on your University accommodation, talk to us. You can contact us through the Student Information Desk (SID).  You can get advice on managing your debt from your Student Union or Student Guild advice service, or from debt organisations such as Step Change or National Debtline.

7. Ask for help

If you’re worried about your money, or dealing with debt, don’t keep it to yourself.  Please speak to your Students’ Union Advice Service. They can help find the right advice and support for you.