Claudia Cannon
The Welsh Government announced on 20 August 2014 it had abolished the Financial Contingency Fund (FCF) for universities in Wales this academic year.
The FCF is a hardship fund aimed at helping students who are finding it hard to make ends meet during their time in further or higher education. It is a grant that students don’t have to repay.
This fund is essential and considered a lifeline for many students in order to complete their course.
The removal of it will marginalise those who can’t afford to access further and higher education in Wales.
The Welsh Government has disregarded its own research conducted in 2013 which states that “the funds do impact positively upon student participation and retention”.
This decision by the Labour-led Welsh Government is just yet another attack on students, and hits the poorest in Wales.
Socialist Students demands living grants for all students in the UK!
