WITH the rising cost of living, students at the University of Bradford have been supported by a newly-opened food pantry that offers students free essentials.

Nearly 30 students a day have visited the pantry and, in the first 10 days, more than 200 students were supported and given access to basics including cereal, rice and tinned goods.

Sarah Jones, student life manager at the university, said: “We see a steady stream of students over lunchtime and by the end of the week, there is very little left on the shelves. 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Shelves stocked as the University of Bradford opened it's Food Pantry to support struggling students. Picture: University of Bradford Shelves stocked as the University of Bradford opened it's Food Pantry to support struggling students. Picture: University of Bradford (Image: University of Bradford)

"The plan is to cater for as many students as need it and keep the pantry running indefinitely.”

The food pantry is open every weekday from 10am to 2pm and students are welcome to choose five items each week from the shelves of food.

In its first 10 days, the student life team helped 262 students. It’s funded through the university’s hardship fund budget, with supermarket deliveries every week. 

Sarah said: “It’s not just about handing food out. We wanted it to be a warm, welcoming space where students can have a chat to talk about what they might be going through. 

"We can then signpost them to other services if necessary.”

Shirley Congdon, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bradford, said: “It saddens me that students, like many other people at the moment, are in need of such support.

"We are doing everything we can to introduce new ways of supporting students during this period of financial crisis targeted at those who need the most help and find themselves in very difficult situations. 

"The food pantry is one example of an intervention that also helps us to direct students to other areas of support. Student support initiatives work best when they are integrated and this one certainly is.”

One student who is grateful for the service is Priyanka Jose, who came from India to study for an MSc in finance. 

Picking up some cereal, rice, bread, and toothpaste, the 34-year-old said: “I haven’t been able to find a part-time job and so I’m finding it difficult to afford things. It’s more expensive here than I thought it would be.

“Being able to come here for some food has really helped a lot.”

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