UCL students can now get ‘super-low cost’ breakfast and lunch at Students’ Union cafés

The Students’ Union at University College London (UCL) has introduced new “super-low cost breakfast and lunchtime meals” amid the cost of living crisis.

Recognising that “things are tight financially for many of you right now,”  the SU’s George Farha café will now offer options for breakfast starting from less than £2 and lunch from £2.50.

From 9-11am, students can get a five-item breakfast pot for £1.95 (available vegan), a bacon roll for £1.50, beans on toast for 50p, or build their own breakfast from individual options all under 50p. And for lunch, budget options include soup and a roll or veggie pasta for £2.50.

All cafés have also made it easier for students to bring and prepare their own lunch on campus by providing microwaves and free hot water.

This scheme has been announced after an SU poll that revealed 95 per cent of UCL students worrying about their finances this year, 85 per cent saying their mental health is impacted by their finances, and 12 per cent having had to use a food bank during their studies.

These numbers reflects the situation of many London students. Recent research by the National Building Society shows that one in five students in Greater London worries about going homeless in the next six months, higher than the nationwide average of one in seven.

The new affordable meals at UCL are a part of greater efforts by the uni and SU to alleviate the impact of the crisis on students. Some other support include the Sarah Douglas Hardship Fund, the Gender Expression Fund, and the Student Activities Participation Fund.

Find out more about this and other means of financial support available for UCL students here.

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• I spent a week eating surplus food around London, and this is what it’s like

• Here are five budget-friendly spots in London for all your food cravings

• London students grapple with money despite the city being more affordable than last year