FOI_26-218 Support for students experiencing food shortages

Date of response: 24 September 2026

We have now considered your request of 08 September 2026 for the following information:

Section 1: Questions about tangible food support for students.

Question 1a: Does your university have a programme (such as a food pantry / foodbank, community fridge, social supermarket, free or reduced priced meals, food redistribution initiative) to support students experiencing food insecurity, food hardship or hunger?

Our response:

Yes.

Question 1b: If yes, please define your provision…

Our response:

UEA, through the Student Journey and Support Services team is partnered with The Trussel Trust and we are able to issue food vouchers and the associated food parcels to UEA students.

Question 1c: If yes, do you audit use / demand?

Our response:

Yes

Question 1d: If yes, how often was it used during the 2024-25 academic year?

Our response:

19 food parcels were issued in the year 24/25.

Question 1e: If no to question 1a what is your procedure to support students living with food insecurity?

Our response:

Not applicable.

Section 2: Questions about financial food support for students.

Question 2a: Does your university offer financial assistance e.g., cash transfer, food/shopping vouchers for students experiencing food insecurity, food hardship or hunger?

Our response:

Yes.

Question 2b: If yes, please define your provision

Our response:

Students experiencing food insecurity, hardship or hunger can apply for financial support available through the Student Life Finance team in Student Journey and Support Services. This could be a loan or a grant application. A trained advisor will then review the application and offer appropriate and timely support. This could be a food voucher that can be spent at large supermarkets and is available to the student as soon as it is awarded, a loan that is also available to the student as soon as it is awarded (both of these can be awarded on the day the request for support is received) or a noon-repayable grant that is designed to help over a longer period of time

Question 2c: If yes, do you audit use / demand?

Our response:

Yes.

Question 2d: If yes, how often was it used during the 2024-25 academic year?

Our response:

19 food parcels issued

258 emergency loans referenced the word ‘food’ in the reason for their application

6 placement loans referenced the word ‘food’ in the reason for their application

84 Student Services Fund applications referenced the word ‘food’ in the reason for their application.

*Please note that these figures don’t include those that may have made an application for support with food but used a different phrase/word, eg. ‘living costs’.

Question 2e: If no to Question 2a do you have an alternative provision?

Our response:

Not applicable.

Section 3: Questions about policy around food aid for students.

Question 3a: Do you have a policy relating to provision for students experiencing food insecurity?

Our response:

No.

Question 3b: If yes, please share details.

Our response:

Not applicable.