University Cost of Living Support

Dear Inzamam

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your request for information under
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Your request is receiving our attention and you will hear from us again
within 20 working days at the latest.

Yours sincerely

Freya Austin

Freya Austin | Information Rights Assistant,

Information Rights, University Secretary’s Office

The Open University, Level 5, Charles Pinfold Building, Walton Hall,
Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
Email: [1][Open University request email]  

[2]rule.png

[3]Freedom of Information Publication Scheme

show quoted sections

Dear Inzamam,

Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
dated 4^th November 2022 relating to cost of living support.

Information Provided

I can confirm that the Open University holds the information which
constitutes information falling within the scope of your request. Please
see the response to your request highlighted below in blue:

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

Yes

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

In addition to the support provided directly by our staff and tutors, a
cost of living landing page has been created in our student Help Centre
with information on the availability of financial support schemes,
external funding advice and internal and external mental health and
wellbeing support tools. You can access the landing page via the following
link: [1]https://help.open.ac.uk/cost-of-living-a... . This
content has been communicated to our student as part of our scheduled
student communications.

The Open University also offers a broad range of student financial support
including scholarships, bursaries and our Study Related Costs scheme for
the provision of essential study equipment such as PCs/laptops and
internet access. In addition to this, the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) is
available to assist students experiencing unexpected financial hardship.
SAF has been designed to be a one-off payment to relieve immediate
financial pressures and is not intended to provide ongoing support to
students in financial difficulty. From 1 October 2022, the scheme has been
amended to include applications relating to general cost of living
increases for things like electricity, fuel and food which are causing
students serious financial hardship and affecting their ability to  study.
Further information regarding the fund is available via the following
link: [2]Student Assistance Fund: Applying for the Student Assistance Fund
| Help Centre | The Open University

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

As of 7 November 2022, 241 students had been awarded funding from the
Student Assistance Fund since 1 April 2022.

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

Expenditure from the Student Assistance Fund between 1 April 2022 and 7
November 2022 has been £132k of which £70k has been disbursed since 1
September 2022.

Review

If you have any concerns about the way the University has observed the
provisions of the Freedom of Information Act you may apply for your
request to be reviewed.  Freedom of Information Reviews are considered by
the University Secretary or his delegate.  Your request must be submitted
within 40 working days of receipt of this letter/email. Reviews should be
addressed to the above [3]inbox, entitled “FOIA Review”, and should set
out the reasons for the review.   You will have a further right of appeal
to the [4]Information Commissioner’s Office.

Kind regards

Danielle Pyper (She/Her) | Information Rights Co-Ordinator
University Secretary’s Office

The Open University, Level 5 (217), Charles Pinfold Building, Walton Hall,
Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
Tel: +44 (0) 1908 332825

References

Visible links
1. https://help.open.ac.uk/cost-of-living-a...
2. https://help.open.ac.uk/student-assistan...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://ico.org.uk/