University of Suffolk, West Suffolk College, Suffolk New College and more to implement cost-of-living schemes

Free parking, meals, and sanitary products are among the motions on the table as higher education centres vow to help students and staff as costs rise.

The University of Suffolk and other centres in the county will be introducing schemes to help protect people during the cost-of-living crisis.

From November 1, parking permit holders at the university's Ipswich campus will not have to buy a parking stay to park Monday through Friday.

Parking at the weekend is already free for staff and students, although permits will still have to be displayed.

This scheme will be in place until March 31, 2023.

The students' union will also be hosting weekly breakfast and dinner clubs – bookable in advance – free food banks and lunch bags, readily available whenever students wish, as well as free tea and coffee from the social space kitchen.

Social space toilets will also contain free sanitary products.

A spokesperson for the university said these will be rolling measures, with students and staff set to be sent exact details as they come.

The university will continue to monitor the situation and bring in further measures, or extend existing ones, if the situation calls for it.

Information on energy saving tips, grants and local support schemes will also be readily available.

It also offers a bursary for struggling students.

West Suffolk College and Abbeygate Sixth Form, both in Bury St Edmunds, are also implementing financial support for students.

Their bursaries cover transport costs and other school funds.

They are also implementing a free school meals scheme, alongside a robust wellbeing support scheme for students.

Staff at Eastern Colleges Group, which encompasses the two Bury-based colleges and One Sixth Form in Ipswich, also have access to a 24-hour assistance hotline.

Cathy Durrant, who works for the group, said they want to get the message across that nobody at their colleges will go without.

Suffolk New College, which is partnered with the University of Suffolk, is also bringing in measures.

Greer Hill, the director of services at the college, believes this problem has been going on far longer than people realise.

She said: “Ahead of it actually being termed ‘the cost of living crisis’ we noticed that more people were talking to us from a place of hardship, so we created a hardship strategy which explains how the College can support learners.

“We have bursary schemes, we are actively championing the free period product scheme and we are re-introducing free breakfasts. We are also looking at setting up a community fridge.

“Our free college meals allowance has been increased and we have an emergency fund which will provide learners with access to financial help."

Ending on a message of hope, she added: “We are here to support as much as we can and we will continue to think creatively about what else we can do to make sure that money isn’t a barrier to our learners’ education.”

East Coast College in Lowestoft, also a partner of the university, has been approached for comment.