Wellbeing Services in Cornwall

Wellbeing and the Cost of Living

We are aware that the rising cost of living is on many people’s minds at the moment and that it may be a source of worry or stress for our student community.

There is a range of support you can access, outlined below, but if you have any concerns you are welcome to connect with our wellbeing specialists by emailing studentservices@fxplus.ac.uk or calling 01326 370 460.

A National Union of Students (NUS) survey from June 2022 found students are very concerned that their student finance will not be sufficient to support them while studying. In this survey, 90% of respondents stated that worrying about finances and the cost of living was having an impact on their mental health.

Our wellbeing specialists in Student Support and the Education Welfare team support students to study successfully and thrive at University despite the current financial uncertainty.

We understand that the impact of financial worry on mental health can be significant. We also hear from students that poor mental health can make managing money harder. This is a difficult cycle and breaking it might require some support. We have partnered with SilverCloud to enable students to access a CBT-based course dedicated to financial worry and its impact. You can access this course for free.

For more information on support available please book an appointment to see us. You can also keep up to date on what cost of living support is available on our cost of living pages.

It is important to keep taking any medication you have been prescribed by your doctor.

There are many free activities available for students to engage in to reduce social isolation and help support the management of your mental health or wellbeing. Read more in the Leisure and Living section of our Cornwall Cost of Living pages.

There are various sources of support for students who are struggling with food poverty.

  • Free Soup - every Friday from 1-3pm in the SU space on the Penryn campus, the SU offers free vegan soup to all students – bring a bowl and spoon if you can. Keep an eye on @supresidents on Instagram for updates.
  • The SU community pantry, on the Penryn campus, is open to all students across our Cornwall campuses who need food. Come along to the SU office and help yourself to an item or two. Please be respectful and mindful that it is a resource for all students.
  • Speak to the SU Advice Service if you need longer-term help and support.
  • Read more about food and drink offers on campus as well as apps and ideas that can help you save money on our cost of living site.

We understand your financial situation may impact on your study or accessing elements of your course.

Please book an appointment with your Education Welfare Team to discuss your concerns. They will support you with signposting and next steps.

Where can I go for support and advice around financial worries?

There are many sources of support for students who are concerned about their finances.

Internal Sources of Support

  • Firstly, please book an appointment with The SU Advice Service – they provide advice on student loans, bursaries, grants, tuition fees, welfare benefits, income tax, council tax, financial hardship, debt problems, debt management and budgeting.
  • Read more about the University of Exeter’s Success for All Fund and start an application or read the FAQs.
  • If you have a disability or a long-term health condition, you may be eligible for Disabled Students’ Allowance to help cover the associated costs of studying with a disability. Read more about the Disabled Students’ Allowance on our Accessibility and Inclusion website and contact the Accessibility team to discuss further.
  • Your Education Welfare Team can offer support where financial worry is impacting on your ability to study or to access elements of your course.

External Sources of Support

  • The Citizens Advice Bureau is a network of independent charities that offers confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free.