Free breakfast offer helps “ease cost of living pressure”

Glasgow Caledonian University's free breakfast initiative has helped ease the cost of living pressure on students and staff, according to a new survey.

All students and staff on campus can enjoy a free breakfast and hot drink every weekday morning as part of an offer introduced in November.

A survey of 625 diners found 76% said the initiative had reduced some of the cost of living pressures on their budgets, with 68% reporting that they are spending less on food on campus since its introduction.

Most users had experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months, with 56% reporting that they ate less, 40% reporting that they worried about running out of food, and 22% running out of food.

Of those surveyed, 95% agreed the free breakfast offer was consistent with Glasgow Caledonian's Mission and Values, with 93% agreeing that they had pride in the University for introducing the offer.

The initiative, delivered in partnership with caterers Baxter Storey, was scheduled to run until the end of February but has now been extended to the end of Trimester B on May 17.

Student researchers on work placement at the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit (SPIRU) conducted five interviews with catering staff for the evaluation report and helped produce the online survey.

Professor John McKendrick, co-director of SPIRU, said: "The evaluation has provided valuable insight into how the service is being used by students and staff.

"The free breakfast offer was introduced as an initiative to relieve some of the cost of living pressures experienced by members of the Glasgow Caledonian community and there is evidence to suggest it's achieving this aim."