Financial Support

Period poverty affects women, girls, transgender men, and non-binary people all over the world. Having your period should not impact on your ability to be able to attend lessons and lectures, but, unfortunately, that is the case for many students across the UK.

In the UK, 1 in 10 girls can’t afford to buy menstrual products, while 1 in 7 have struggled to afford them. 

Not having access to a safe and hygienic way to deal with menstruation can have profound consequences; particularly in education. Research by Plan International UK found that 49% of girls have missed an entire day of school because of their period. 59% of these girls have made up a lie or an alternative excuse to avoid going to school. Over the course of a year, 137,700 children in the UK miss school because of period poverty. 

Another problem intertwined with period poverty is the taboo surrounding menstruation, this can be particularly harmful to girls going through puberty. In a survey of more than 1,000 girls, nearly half were embarrassed by their period, many were afraid to ask for help because of the stigma and 68% said they felt less able to pay attention in class at school or college while menstruating. 

As requested by our Student Partners, period products, such as pads and tampons, are available in our toilets at both Riverside & Media City to those who need them in order to access education. Having periods should not be a barrier to education for anyone.

Please help yourself to the products provided when you need them. 

Personal hygiene refers to the various practices and habits individuals use to maintain their physical and mental health. These practices include washing your hands, having a shower/wash, brushing your teeth, washing your hair, and using deodorant. By taking care of your hygiene, you can feel more confident, in control, and proud of yourself, contributing to positive mental health outcomes. 

Personal hygiene aims to keep the body and mind clean and healthy by preventing the spread of germs and infections, reducing risk of illness, and preventing skin and dental problems. Good personal hygiene is also important in helping build and maintain relationships both in education and the workplace, contributing to a clean and pleasant environment for everyone. 

For those who struggle with their mental health, self-care can be both challenging and rewarding, this includes personal hygiene. This may be something like showering, brushing teeth, or doing your laundry. Just like with everything, self-care looks different on everyone, and difficult areas will not be the same for each person. Showering can be a real challenge when your mood is low and poor hygiene can cause or exacerbate depression or anxiety problems and make a person isolate themselves. 

Self-care means taking the time to do the things that improve both your physical and mental wellbeing. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact. Keeping the body clean has positive effects on a person’s social life and their physical and mental health.  

Personal hygiene is simply looking after the body and keeping it clean and healthy. Developing and maintaining a personal hygiene routine is key to having a healthy body and mind. 

As another means of support, we offer free essential toiletries packs. These are available to all students. By providing the essentials to stay clean, we hope that our students will feel more confident and comfortable and that we can relieve some of the financial pressure they might be under. 

What is included in these packs? 

• Soap 
• Shower gel 
• Shampoo / Conditioner 
• Toothbrush 
• Toothpaste 
• Face wash 
• Deodorant 
• Sanitary products 

Eligibility:

The essential toiletries packs are available to all students.  

Where can I collect these from?

Students can collect the packs from Floor 1. If you are unsure of where to collect or have any questions, please contact [email protected] 

Futureworks works with Salford Foodbank to provide foodbank vouchers for students who need them. 

We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. That’s why Foodbank Salford provide three days’ of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people. They are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. 

“The foodbank was there when we really needed it, it was an absolute lifeline.” 

Everyday people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. A simple bag of food makes a big difference, with foodbanks helping prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems. 

How do I get a Foodbank Voucher and what is the process? 

• If you are experiencing financial hardship and are struggling to afford food, you should book a support meeting with our Welfare Officer to discuss your personal situation 
• If authorised, the Welfare Officer will discuss the process and issue you with an online code and the location of which to collect your food package. We try and allocate a foodbank within approx. 10 mins of where you live so you can access this service as easily as possible. 
• You can then take your code to the foodbank and collect your package. Just remember some strong bags!

How does a foodbank work? 

1. Food is donated – Schools, churches, businesses, and individuals donate non-perishable, in-date food to a foodbank. Large collections often take place as part of Harvest Festival celebrations and food is also collected at supermarkets.
2. Food is sorted and stored – Volunteers sort food to check that it’s in date and pack it into bags ready to be given to people in need. Over 40,000 people give up their time to volunteer at foodbanks.
3. Professionals identify people in need – Foodbanks partners, from a wide range of care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social worker, police, and universities, identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher code.
4. Individuals receive food – Foodbank clients bring their voucher code to a foodbank centre where it can be redeemed for three days’ emergency food. In most Distribution Centres volunteers can meet clients over a warm drink and a chat, and together with our own trained team of specialist sign posters and Professional Financial Advisors are able to signpost people to agencies able to solve their longer-term problems.

They can adapt your food parcel according to the number of adults and children indicated on your voucher referral. They will also endeavour to provide foods that are age appropriate and in suitable quantities for any children. Usually, they can also adapt your food parcel to meet your dietary needs, for example, gluten free, halal or vegetarian. Please discuss this with our Welfare Officer when making a request. 

 A typical food parcel includes:  

• Breakfast cereals 
• Soup 
• Pasta 
• Rice 
• Pasta sauce 
• Tinned beans 
• Tinned meat 
• Tinned vegetables 
• Tinned fruit 
• Tea or coffee 
• Biscuits 
• Snacks 

When you arrive at the foodbank centre, there will be volunteers available to chat to you about any special dietary requirements you may have. 

We know that crisis can strike anyone, and we also understand how difficult it can be to think about walking through a foodbank door. That’s why there are volunteers on-hand to welcome everyone who comes to the foodbank with compassion, kindness and a listening ear. 

Eligibility:

Any student is eligible, please speak to our Welfare Officer to discuss this referral. You can book a support meeting here or email [email protected] 

Emergency Loan

Applications open all academic year
 

Deadline: A student can apply for an emergency loan during any year of study at any time

Futureworks provides an Emergency Loan for any student who may have a temporary financial difficulty whilst studying at Futureworks.  

This is useful for students who have received and exhausted their maintenance loan or bursary payment and are awaiting another source of income e.g. wages or next maintenance loan or bursary instalment. 

Students must book a support meeting with our Welfare Officer to discuss this method of financial support and complete an application form. 

Funding amount: 

Up to £250 paid directly to you via bank transfer. The maximum assistance we can supply in one academic year is £250. A smaller amount will be offered if the application does not warrant the full amount. Gift cards/travel vouchers may be given if the loan is required for grocery/travel costs. 

How does it work?

Students must apply via the Welfare Officer. All applications are assessed on an individual basis by the Head of Student Affairs who will make a recommendation as how much assistance should be offered and in what form.  

Recommendations are then authorised by the Vice-Principal. The decision of the Vice-Principal is final. If approved, the loan must be re-paid within 10 working days after you receive your next maintenance loan instalment from Student Finance.  

Emergency Loan payments are assessed on an individual basis and the loan amount will be given in accordance with the student’s needs. No decisions regarding the application will be made during the meeting with our Welfare Officer.

What do I need to do to apply?  

• Complete an application form via the Welfare Officer 
• You will need to prove that they you have been approved a maintenance loan by Student Finance, by supplying official correspondence from your funding body showing your entitlement letter. If you do not have Student Finance please discuss this with our Welfare Officer 
• You will need to provide a copy of your current bank statements for the past 3 months 
• You will need to provide a form of Photo I.D. e.g. passport, current driving license 

If you do not receive a maintenance loan but are struggling financially, we would encourage you to come and speak to us in the Student Advice Centre so we can work out how best to support you. 

Eligibility:

Students must be:

• fully enrolled at Futureworks
• experiencing temporary financial hardship
• first time recipient of an Emergency Loan per academic year

Who is not eligible?  

• Any student who is currently in debt to Futureworks 
• Any student who is currently suspended from Futureworks.

What happens if I don’t repay the loan?

Futureworks reserves the right to place the debt into the hands of a debt collection agency and to take action through the Courts, if the debt remains unpaid. Debt recovery fees will be charged to the student as appropriate.

Book a support meeting with our Welfare Officer here or you can email [email protected]

Process:

Applications will be reviewed & approved by the Head of Student Affairs and Vice-Principal.
Students must attend a support meeting with the Welfare Officer to discuss their individual situation.