56 Virtual Brochure – February 2024 Appendix C - Hardship Support Benchmarking Activity Completed across February 2023, we provide a comparison of four universities’ websites to assess how they compare in terms of clarity, helpful pointers (FAQs), progress updates, turnaround targets, etc., in relation to hardship fund support. We selected these four institutions due to their varied student population sizes and anecdotal evidence that they were offering a good range of hardship initiatives. Institution A • This University offers Student Support Fund grants to help students with essential living costs. • There is information on eligibility and the application process on the University website. There is also a FAQ section which provides further information, including processing timescales and the initial supporting evidence required. • This University has a Food Pantry which is funded through the University’s hardship fund budget. Any student can choose five items each week from the shelves of food, stocked with essentials such as pasta, rice, tinned goods, cereal, and bread. Institution B • This institution has launched a cost-of-living hub which includes links to the following support: • Information on the Student Support Fund – there is information on eligibility, the application process and the types of evidence that may be required, e.g., bank statements; however, there is no exhaustive list of evidence that might be required. There is information provided on processing timescales and signposting to the money advice team if further support is required. • Students applying for hardship funding are signposted to the Blackbullion money management website to complete a budgeting module. • The cost-of-living hub also contains information on: 1) Food vouchers 2) Café discounts 3) Emergency food boxes with three days' worth of food items 4) Grocery shelves 5) Warm and welcome campus - warm library, charging for mobile devices and showers o Stationery offers 6) Free recycled IT kit 7) Gym membership discounts Institution C • This institution has a dedicated web page for cost-of-living support which includes a section for both students and staff. • The student support page contains information on the following support: 1) Funds and food vouchers for students in urgent need 2) Warm spaces 3) on campus spaces, facilities and evening activities 4) Improved Student Population Institution A <10,000 Institution B ~23,000 Institution C 10,000 Institution D >40,000
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