Alumni and friends from the University of Liverpool have raised £162,295 towards the COVID-19 Student Crisis Support Fund.
The campaign was launched as part of the wider COVID-19 Emergency Response Campaign to support the emergency needs of our student community and has been a lifeline for students facing unexpected financial hardship during the pandemic.
The pandemic has had a devastating impact on our students with many losing part-time jobs and internships, as well as facing increased costs associated with home learning such as lack of study equipment and internet access. The Fund has been vital to ensure students who are facing financial worries receive the support they urgently need.
Since the launch of the campaign hundreds of people have chosen to lend their support to this vital campaign. Ian Rowe, donor and MBA Business Administration (2016) graduate said: “I was once a student and can remember how poor I was in a normal world. Students and young people have a tough time these days made even worse by the pandemic.”
Santander Universities UK also geneorously donated £25,000 towards the Student Crisis Support Fund. Matt Hutnell, Director at Santander Universities, said: “Santander is committed to supporting higher education as well as local communities across the UK so we’re pleased that our funding is able to be redirected to where it is most needed at this critical time. Universities are doing some fantastic work to contribute to the UK’s effort to combat the outbreak of COVID-19, so we’re delighted to collaborate with our university partners in a way which increases their response effort and look forward to continuing to work with them on supporting both students and the broader higher education community with further initiatives over the coming months.”
One of the students who the Fund has supported is third year BSc Marketing student Ely Miyoshi Tamashiro Rizo who received funding which helped to pay her rent. Miyoshi said: “I would like to thank the people that made it possible for me to make this payment. It is really appreciated that we are part of a community who helps each other in times of crisis. It made me and my family feel like we had someone in Liverpool who could understand what we were going through and could help us. I will forever be grateful for this act of kindness.”
With the number of students in need increasing each day, it is expected the impact of the pandemic will be felt for months to come. Caroline O’Connell from the University’s Money Advice and Guidance Team said: “It is likely that the COVID-19 pandemic will affect students over a number of years. Students are genuinely concerned about future funding and how they will manage with a reduction in the number of jobs available. Lots of students receive low student loans and work to supplement their income to pay for their living costs.”
She added: “Thanks to the Student Crisis Support Fund we have been able to contribute financially to students that have been unable to find jobs this summer. However, this situation will have a long-term knock-on effect as loss of earnings during this time will mean that students are in a much worse financial situation starting the next academic year with many who will have been unable to clear overdrafts.”
As the campaign continues to grow with offers of support across the world, we are incredibly thankful to everyone who has given their time and experience through volunteering or a gift to the Fund. It is thanks to your generosity that we can continue to help all students achieve their full potential.
Despite reaching this milestone, it is clear that the pandemic will leave long lasting effects on our student community. If you would like to help to provide this continuing support for our students through the COVID-19 Student Crisis Support Fund please find out more here.