In response to the scale of this crisis we’ve substantially increased the financial support available through the hardship fund. Last year the fund provided students with £489k, this year we’re expanding the total funding available to £1.5 million.

We’ve also made the application process much simpler and removed barriers that may have prevented members from applying previously. You can apply multiple times up to a maximum award of £1,500 for the year.

Find out more here.

The cost of living crisis is affecting almost every part of student life.

So, we’re significantly increasing what our hardship fund covers to include;

• Food costs
• Assistance with travel
• Course costs
• Childcare
• Accommodation
• Energy costs
• Sports and society membership cost
• IT equipment

We’ve also made the application process much simpler and removed barriers that may have prevented members from applying previously. You can apply multiple times up to a maximum award of £1,500 for the year.

Find out more here.

For many, seeking financial support can be an admission of failure.

But this crisis is unavoidable, so we’re working together to make sure that our financial support is more widely understood, relevant and accessible to any student struggling.

We’ve been looking at how we can help counteract rising supermarket costs for our students.

Using our ability to buy in bulk, the SU will be launching SU Basics: your pop-up market, offering a range of essential products at significantly reduced prices. The pop up market will run 11am-2pm from Monday 28^th November outside Everything Essex.

We want to make sure that all students have access to affordable hot food options, so we’ve introduced daily hot meals for £2 in all Essex Food outlets on-campus.

Read more about the £2 Daily Hot Meals here.

Being together and supporting each other has never been so important.

To bring students together the SU will run SU Eat & Meet events offering free food in warm spaces.

We want to make sure students have access to activities where cost isn’t a barrier. We’ll be promoting a wide range of free events from meet-ups and art and crafts to cinema screenings and nights out.

See What’s On this week.

A student’s financial situation shouldn’t impact on their progression.

So we’re removing the fees for compulsory reassessment in 2022-23.

Together we employ over 1000 students across our campuses.

We’re fast-tracking the introduction of the Voluntary Living Wage for all students working for the University and the Students’ Union.