Food Banks 'Essential' for New Generation of Students
When most people think about the quintessential student experience, they may imagine late-night parties, early morning lectures, and spending time in the student union bar between classes.
However, many students are struggling to balance budgeting for tuition fees, rent, and groceries.
In Belfast, over the past year, Queen's University Students' Union (QUBSU) has observed a 20% increase in students using The Pantry, a free refill station that enables students to stock up on everything from household items to fresh fruit and vegetables.
"It is unbelievable the amount of students that use The Pantry, we have over 200 students visiting every day," Amy Smith said.
Amy Smith, the QUBSU president, explained that the food bank operates five days a week and receives funding support from the university.
University figures indicate there were more than 10,500 visits by students to the food bank between September and December 2025, compared to 8,691 during the same period the previous year.
"A lot of our students would struggle to eat and have meals, and have three meals a day let alone one so it's really something for our students to not have to choose between heating or eating," Smith said.
"A lot of this comes from students not having enough money within loans, rent prices are increasing a lot and I think that's very much a contributing factor."
Ben Friel, president of the National Union of Students NI, noted the changing role of students' unions.
"Maybe 10 or 15 years ago a students' union would just be a place that people went on nights out, had a fun time, but now we're in a situation where students' unions have had to step up to the plate," said Friel.
"Students aren't just here for a night out, students get degrees, they come and contribute to the economy," Friel added.
"Fundamentally we need to rethink how we look at students as a whole."
Financial Struggles Shape Student Experience
Final year student Lucy O'Rawe described how much of the modern student experience has become focused on financial management.
"Everything goes up in price and everything gets smaller as well and lower quality, and you're paying more for something that's worse and smaller," she said.
"So many students are working so hard to support themselves, and I think that needs to be really respected and acknowledged."
O'Rawe added that the students' union, once a space for relaxation between lectures and tutorials, has now become a vital resource for some students.
"If you spoke to someone over five, maybe 10 or 15 years ago and you said: 'The students' union in Queen's has a food bank for students,' they'd be shocked because that's not something you'd expect in a relatively well off part of the world."
"It's become a lot more common. It's so sad that it has to be normalised."
Student Social Life 'Massive Misconception'
While many assume students spend their spare change on nights out and takeaways, final year law student Holly Dougan challenged this perception.
"Students have an image and we have a reputation that's associated with going out and having a bit of fun," she said.
"I would definitely say it's a massive misconception."
Dougan emphasized that for many students, the food bank is "essential" to cope with rising costs.
"You just find that everything seems inflated, nothing seems to be going down or even staying the same.
"But rent would be the main one for me."
Dougan, who also chairs the university's women's students association, described the refill facility as "fabulous," but expressed regret that students feel the need to rely on it for basic essentials.
"It is shocking and as much as I'm ever so grateful that it's here, we do mostly associate the students' union with a bit of fun, a bit of craic, having a coffee or a drink with your friends," she said.
"But any time that I've walked past The Pantry, the queues have been massive."
