‘NI students choose between heating or eating’

A recent survey has revealed that students in Northern Ireland are skipping meals due to the cost of living crisis.

The NUS-USI (National Union of Students NI) survey also revealed that more than half of those surveyed went without heating.

“For some students it really is a choice between warming up and eating,” a student welfare officer at Queen’s University Belfast told BBC News NI.

Some students are struggling financially, so universities are now launching initiatives to help them cope with the cost of living crisis.

The Pantry at Queens is one of those initiatives – a free food refill station for students.

It launched in 2022 and has seen a surge in demand, with nearly 5,000 people using the service since September.

The survey of more than 600 students and apprentices in Northern Ireland found that 19% had accessed a foodbank in the past year, an annual increase of 12%.

Muffuselaban is studying for a master’s degree in science at Queens and uses the pantry.

“My breakfast is completely dependent on the pantry,” Muffuselaban told BBC News NI.

“The foods I find in the pantry are too expensive for me to find at the supermarket and I could spend my money on other things.

“Using the pantry keeps me healthy – I can eat a wide variety of foods because I don’t have to worry about cost.

“I have work to do, I have things to do.”

Another initiative to help students with the cost of living is the Swap Shop which was opened about two months ago.

The shop allows people to exchange one item of clothing for another.

“The main aim is stability but there is also a huge cost of living involved,” Jess, Queen’s Students’ Union welfare officer, told BBC News NI.

“Half of students only have £100 left over after paying their rent per month, for many this doesn’t even cover bills.

“For some students it really is a choice between heating and eating – for many people buying new clothes is out of the question, which is why the swap shop is a great idea.”

Jess believes more needs to be done to bridge this gap and “control rising rental costs” once students have paid for their essentials.

44% of those surveyed admitted that they have difficulty paying housing costs.

And 92% of respondents reported problems with their housing, including mold and infestations.

Chris Murray represents students at the Coleraine campus of Ulster University.

“How does the government expect students to eat when the cheapest purpose-built student accommodation in Belfast is £550 a month, which isn’t even covered by student loans?” he asked.

“Sometimes students have to pay for a contract that they can’t get out of, they have to move into their parents’ house who may be hours away just to get a free meal.”

Financial crisis is also affecting the education of students.

The survey revealed that 22% of students have skipped class because they cannot afford public transportation to get there.

Chris said that this is also affecting the mental health of the students.

“‘Am I going to eat my next meal?’ The stress related to cost of living would have taken over my entire mind, Chris said, saying, “Students’ ability to concentrate, concentrate, and do their studies is going to be affected…any stress related to the cost of living.”

Speaking about the survey results, NUS-USI President Ben Friel said: “It is absolutely unacceptable that so many students are struggling to afford basic necessities like food and rent.

“We are seeing a generation of students racking up credit card and loan debt just to keep a roof over their heads.

“These alarming rates of student poverty are not normal.”