In partnership with our Students’ Union, we’ve formed a Cost of Living Working Group to focus on what additional support we can provide to you, during these challenging times.
We’re here to support you during your studies and have launched our ‘acting on cost’ programme, which focuses on increasing provision of money management workshops, action on hygiene poverty, free breakfasts from the Students’ Union, as well as subsidised clubs and society access.
We have also committed an additional £500,000 to support students, providing direct financial support to those in need such as subsidised food options at catering outlets; increased numbers of meaningful student work placements; and support for students who are experiencing digital poverty.
Support is available
Free Cereal and Toast
The Students’ Union is providing free cereal and toast at Ember Lounge and Verve. At Verve, you can access this Monday to Friday (8am until close) and Saturday (10am until 5pm). At Ember Lounge, you can access this Monday to Friday (11am until close, except on Tuesday where it will operate from 11am to 6pm), and Saturday (5pm until close).
Free Period Products
There are free period products available at our Students’ Union venues - Squeezebox, Ember toilets (women’s, men’s and disabled), Students’ Union office toilets (women’s and men’s), LRV toilets (women’s and disabled), our Students’ Union Reception and Verve.
Access to your student experience
The Students’ Union now operates a range of free events for you to engage with.
Funding is also available for students to join Students’ Union clubs and societies. Reach out to the Union by emailing union@staffs.ac.uk to find out more.
Extended Opening Hours
Our flagship building The Catalyst is open until 10p.m. every day and the Cadman Building is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can access spaces that are safe, warm and conducive to studying.
Buy What You Need
A zero-waste section is available at our College Road and Leek Road Students’ Union shop, allowing you to buy in quantities that your budget allows. Call in for more information.
Affordable Snacks
At our Stoke-on-Trent, London and Lichfield campuses, there is a rollover hotdog stand, with a range of hotdogs for just £3.00 providing an affordable food option on campus, to eat in, or grab and go. Halal, vegan and vegetarian options are available.
‘Too Good To Go Scheme’
The University and the Students’ Union have signed up to the ‘Too Good To Go Scheme’ to make sure good food gets eaten, not wasted. Every day, delicious, fresh food goes to waste at cafés, restaurants, hotels, shops and manufacturers - just because it hasn’t sold in time.
The Too Good To Go app lets customers buy and collect Magic Bags of this food - at a great price - directly from businesses. Signing up to scheme means there will be minimal food waste across the University, as well as food provided at a reduced price.
The scheme will roll out at the University the week commencing Monday 9 January 2023, initially in Stoke-on-Trent, and Stafford and London will follow within weeks. Download the app here for the most up-to-date information covering our campuses as well as your local area.
Employment Opportunities
For students who wish to work alongside their studies, we have an onsite recruitment agency, Unitemps and the Career Team to help you gain part-time employment, graduate jobs and internship opportunities with local employers as well as refine your CV, cover letter and practice interview skills. If you want to book a meeting regarding job opportunities, you can email unitemps@staffs.ac.uk or visit the Unitemps office on the 3rd floor of the Catalyst building. Both Unitemps and the Career teams are open to help you with any employment inquiries. Get registered at www.unitemps.com and follow their social media accounts to get notified of the newest job vacancies. For more tips and job opportunities, visit https://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/unitemps/ or https://staffs.careercentre.me/Members
In addition, The Career and Employability team is organising Job Fairs with employers on campus to support part-time and full-time employment at the start of each semester. Keep an eye on the student newsletters and social media channels to get notified of any new events taking place soon.
We are also providing paid meaningful student work experiences, whatever your level of study and we are now extending our paid placement provision to allow more Level 5 students than ever before the opportunity to access part-time paid work experience to deliver financial sustainability. For more information, email experience@staffs.ac.uk.
Digital Inclusion
We are making addition investments to provide grants for devices to help students improve their digital access, as well as a package of support to enhance digital and employability skills. This may include things such as improving access to hardware or prepaid Wi-Fi dongles.
We will share details about how to apply once the scheme is available.
In the meantime, from short-term and long-term laptop loans to access to external funding for equipment, we are here to help. Find out more about digital support.
Supporting Your Mental Health
We know that money concerns may impact on your mental health and so it is important to remember what support we can provide to support you whilst you are at University.
Togetherall - This service is completely anonymous and provides 24/7 online peer and professional support, with trained counsellors. Using Togetherall will not affect you accessing face-to-face mental health support provided by the University.
To join the supportive online community, simply go to https://togetherall.com/en-gb/ and sign up with your university email address. You then choose an anonymous username for your time on the wall.
Free Financial Advice and Support
The University provides free financial advice and support to every student through our partner, Blackbullion. To access this for free, simply register using your University email address. The platform is full of practical financial education, and additional sources of funding to help you develop your money skills and confidence and start growing your financial wellbeing.
The learning covers 80+ personal finance topics, such as credit scores, saving and investing, including ethical investments and risk management. There’s information about scams, emergency funds and subjects to help you prepare for life after your studies, such as tax and pensions. You’ll also find tools to help with your money, like a budget calculator and the student loan repayment estimator. The Money and Guidance Team provide advice and guidance on money related matters and have designed FREE Budget Worksheets, Meal Planners and Shopping Lists for you to download.
Blackbullion can also help you find additional funding in the form of scholarships, bursaries, and other funds that you might be eligible for. Some of these are offered by us, as well as by other organisations too. So head over to the Funds section to see what you might be eligible for and apply.
Further Sources of Financial Assistance
We have a team of friendly, approachable Money & Guidance Advisors who can help you with any problems or questions you may have whilst studying at Staffordshire University. If you are struggling financially, there is help and advice available.
If you’re struggling financially and worried this could impact on your ability to continue with your studies our Student Success (Support) Fund might be able to help you.
In addition, the Horizon Fund exists to help you in times of financial hardship, funded by donations from generous supporters of the University, who believe in our mission to transform lives and create better futures.
The Students’ Union has developed some useful information for students on money saving tips, access to funding and a range of free initiatives across our campuses.
And finally, if you need any help and support, online or in person, but are unsure who you need to speak to or where you need to go, contact the Student Connect team.