By Ruby Sharkie, Associate News Editor
On Wednesday 12th November, Olivia Davies, the president of Royal Holloway’s Student’s Union (RHSU), launched the ‘Community Cupboards’ initiative as part of Financial Support Week.
The cupboards allowed students to freely take what they needed from a range of non-perishable foods, toiletries, and other house-hold goods, supplied by RHSU.
Olivia told me that these cupboards are match funded by the Student’s Union (SU), SU shop and the Royal Holloway University itself.
The cupboards come as a part of Olivia’s Priority 8 initiative to provide more financial support for students across campus. This priority was assigned to her by the students’ vote but Olivia said she was very passionate about the cause and wanted to achieve some tangible change for students, specifically when it comes to food poverty.
During the set-up and maintenance of this project, Olivia has faced a couple of difficulties including maintaining stock and ensuring they have the correct items to fit all student’s needs.
Olivia and the SU team prioritised anonymity by ensuring that the cupboards were accessible at all hours that the buildings were and having no sign up form, so no details are required to use the service.
What would you say to students who may feel embarrassed to access help?
“Asking for help and support is not a weakness.”
In a Cost-of-living survey issued by the SU, 62% of respondents say they do not go to some transnational spaces on campus because they cannot afford the food or drink.
Olivia says that institutional change like cheaper food on campus, cheaper transport and better deadline stacking would provide a big help to students as well as better coverage to help them access support.
Although this is Olivia’s final year as a RHSU Sabbatical Officer, she reassured me that the cupboards will be staying for the indefinite future.
MP Luke Charters is currently working to change Student Finance England payments from a termly to a monthly system. Olivia responded positively to this proposal, suggesting that students should be given the option to choose between monthly or termly payments.
As part of a Period Dignity campaign taking place at the end of March, the team has been working to introduce free period products across campus. With the support of Poppy Coates and Emma Mayhew, the number of buildings offering period products has increased from four to twelve.
These buildings include the Advice Centre, Shilling, Windsor, Founders, the Library, Moore, Bedford, Queens, the Sports Centre, Katherine Worth, Wettons, and International. In addition, all Community Cupboards now stock free period products.
Community Cupboards can be found in Tommy’s Lounge (SU), Wettons, Windsor, and Shilling buildings.