NUS-USI welcomes the Economy Minister’s announcement that an additional £1 million of financial hardship funding has been allocated to universities for distribution to students across Northern Ireland.
This is an important first step from the NI Executive to relieve students from the unprecedented cost of living pressures they face.
We urgently need to address the alarming scale of student poverty in NI. Whilst this is a welcome investment, these funds are restrictive and time consuming — forcing students to jump through hurdles to access basic support. We must see a more impactful and universal investment into immediate student support for all learners, including our students and apprentices in further education who are continually left behind.
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- BBC News article featuring comments from NUS-USI President Chloe Ferguson: NI students facing financial hardship get £1m boost - BBC News