Dear Inzamam Rashid

This is to acknowledge receipt of your request for information below and to let you know it is being processed.

We'll get back to you as soon as we can, but in any case within 20 working days from 04/11/2022.

Please quote the reference number, IMPS#03436, in any future correspondence, thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Sinead Latham

Information Management & Policy Services (IMPS), University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AH
t: +44 (0)118 378 8981 www.reading.ac.uk/foia

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Dear Inzamam Rashid,

We have completed the compilation of information in response to your
request.

We can confirm that we do hold some of the information specified in your
request. Our responses are given below each limb of your request below.

************* FOI RESPONSE *************

1) Is your institution offering support to students to help with the rise
in cost of living?

The University offers support to students through various means, such as
advice and guidance, subsidised catering, food vouchers, and funding
types, such as the Student Support Fund which is to assist students who
are experiencing unexpected financial difficulty. The support available is
not specific to “the cost of living” but the University has dedicated Cost
of Living resource webpage for students to refer to and identify what
types of support is available for them.

[1]https://www.reading.ac.uk/essentials/Mon...

2) If yes, what is the specific support you're providing university
students?

As above, support available is not specific to students experiencing
hardship through “the cost of living” alone, but those who do experience
it will have access to the following resources:

[2]https://www.reading.ac.uk/essentials/Mon...

Students can apply for Student Support Fund – see here:
[3]https://www.reading.ac.uk/essentials/Mon...

Other bursaries and awards available are listed here:
[4]https://www.reading.ac.uk/essentials/Mon...

3) How many university students have you supported with the cost of living
crisis in the last 6 months?

No information held. Whilst the University holds a record of the bursaries
and grants awarded to students, as there is not a specific bursary for
“the cost of living” so we do not hold information on those the University
has provided support to specifically for “the cost of living”.

4) Roughly, what is the expenditure to the university for providing
support to university students in the last 6 months?

No information held. Whilst the University holds a record of the bursaries
and grants awarded to students, support can be provided through a large
number of differing channels, from subsidised catering hardship funds to
general advice and guidance.

The University does not hold a total expenditure that would encompass all
of the support provided in the last 6 months.

***************** END *****************

We are required to include details of our complaints procedures, including
your rights to apply to the Information Commissioner.  The procedure is
detailed in our Freedom of Information and Environmental Information
Regulations policy on the web at
[5]www.reading.ac.uk/freedom-of-information-policy

If we are unable to resolve any complaint, you can complain to the
Information Commissioner, the independent body who oversees the access to
information regimes: [6]https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/ 

Yours sincerely, 

Sinead Latham

Information Compliance Officer

Information Management & Policy Services (IMPS), University of Reading,
Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AH

[7][University of Reading request email]    t: +44 (0)118 378 8981   
[8]www.reading.ac.uk/foia

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