In the UK, the number of people reported to be living in ‘food insecure’ households rose from 4.7 million (7 per cent) in 2021/22 to 7.2 million (11 per cent) in 2022/23 (Francis-Devine, 2024). In 2023/24, the Trussell Trust distributed 3.12 million emergency food parcels from 1,669 food banks; in addition, there are at least 1,172 independent food banks also in operation across the UK.

Food insecurity can be defined as ‘the inadequate access to food due to financial constraints’ (Tarasuk et al., 2018, p. 201) and unsurprisingly, rising food poverty and insecurity have become the focus of growing public and political awareness and academic scrutiny. Following the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent rise in the cost of living, new and more visible users of foodbanks have emerged, and new sites and spaces of free food provision have been reported (Francis-Devine, 2024), including for university students. In the 2022/23 academic year, 14 per cent of students used a foodbank (NUS, 2024); and in 2023, one in four UK universities was reported to be operating a foodbank for their students (Freeman, 2023).

While recent reports have highlighted the detrimental impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on students (ONS, 2023; The Sutton Trust, 2023) university students’ food insecurity in the UK remains under-researched. Our ongoing study, funded by the British Academy, is exploring the provision and use of free food across the higher education sector in England and focuses on:

1. The politics underlying inequalities that are creating new university spaces and users of free food provision across England.
2. The infrastructures and policies supporting free food provision with universities and the wider constructions of HE providers’ roles and responsibilities towards their student populations.
3. Students’ experiences of food poverty, and their need for and access to university free food provision.

From 31 responses to a questionnaire sent to all English universities to map university student support for food poverty, it is evident that multiple strategies are being employed by higher education institutions (HEIs) in response to the food needs of vulnerable students. Thirty of the 31 responses indicated students are being provided with free food through access to food banks, food vouchers and meals, and 20 complement this with information about local community foodbanks.

‘Qualitative data suggest free food provision is variable across universities, with some being consciously targeted at particular times and in particular spaces.’

However, qualitative data suggest free food provision is variable across universities, with some being consciously targeted at particular times (for example, during examinations) and in particular spaces (for example, on main campus sites only):

‘We offer free fruit (weekly) and breakfasts (daily) periodically throughout the year in the food outlets for all students, particularly around exam times and during the colder months. Occasionally the food outlets offer free hot meals at weekends.

This is not targeted and any student is eligible (Pre-1992 university).’

Moreover, provision can be visible and openly promoted, for example through free campus meals, but also discreetly operationalised, for example in relation to food banks and care packages:

‘The University provides free food vouchers following a meeting with the student to discuss their finances. The Students’ Union operates the food bank, which we call the pantry, which students can freely access (Russell Group university).’

To complement this mapping exercise, interviews will be conducted with 30 students who have made use of free food provision in their university to gain an insight into their experiences.

What is clear is that universities are increasingly seeing their roles and responsibilities towards their students being redefined and expanded. Given the ongoing challenges facing the sector following funding cuts and policy changes, it remains to be seen whether free food provision for students is financially sustainable and whether food banks and free food provision for students become an ‘everyday’ feature of contemporary university campus life.

References

Francis-Devine, B. (2024). Food banks in the UK. House of Commons Library. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8585/

Freeman, J. (2023). How to beat a cost-of-learning crisis: Universities’ support for students, HEPI Report 163.

National Union of Students [NUS]. (2024). Cost of living: Spring 2024 findings. https://www.nus.org.uk/cost-of-living-survey-2024

Office for National Statistics [ONS]. (2023). Statistical bulletin, February 2023. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/educationandchildcare/bulletins/costoflivingandhighereducationstudentsengland/30januaryto13february2023

Tarasuk, V., Li, T., Mitchell, A., & Dachner, N. (2018). Commentary: The case for more comprehensive data on household food insecurity. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada: Research, Policy and Practice, 38(5), 210–213. https://doi.org/10.24095/hpcdp.38.5.03

The Sutton Trust. (2023). Cost of living and university students. https://www.suttontrust.com/our-research/cost-of-living-and-university-students-2023/