The UPSU Community Larder is here to help students in financial hardship. 

As prices of rent, utilities and food items have skyrocketed, students face even bigger challenges to make ends meet. This is directly affecting the academic performance and general wellbeing of students. To support these students in the most effective way possible, we (your SU) operate a Community Larder. 
 

How to access support from the Larder: 
 

To make sure that those in need are made aware of all support available to them we ask that students visit the Student Hub, located in the Library, or the UPSU Advice Centre, in order to be referred to the Larder. The referral process is quick and easy, we just want to make sure that you have all the support you need from qualified staff. This could be support to contact student finance or to explore potential funding and benefit options  

Once we have received your referral from Hub, we’ll get in touch with you to arrange the most mutually convenient time to pick up a food parcel. 

Contents of the food parcels will vary dependant on what donations we have received. We will always try to accommodate any dietary requirements. 

A parcel from the Community Larder will typically contain:  

• Rice 

• Pasta 

• Cereal or oats 

• UHT milk or plant-based alternative 

• Tinned protein – for example, tinned tuna or chickpeas 

• Long-life packaged goods, for example; baked beans, soup, pre-made sauces, tinned vegetables 

• Quick make packet rice, noodles, cous cous 
   

You will also be able to collect hygiene products and toiletries as part of the Community Larder, including period products, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, toilet roll etc.  

Help us to help our members 

The ongoing success of this initiative will rely on donations from staff, students and local businesses. There are donation boxes located across campus in the following locations; in The Hive (SU), Roland Levinsky Building (next to the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Help Desk), and in the Science and Engineering Faculty Office. If you're a member of staff who has donations to make to the Community Larder then get in touch with studentvoice@su.plymouth.ac.uk and the team will come to collect it. If you’re in a position to make a contribution, no matter how small, we would appreciate donations of the following items: 

• Dry carbohydrates (Rice pasta noodles) 

• Jars of pasta/curry sauces 

• Porridge, snack bars and cereal 

• Tinned veg 

• Quick meals - pot noodles, pasta and sauce, packet rice 

• Soup 

• Ready to use pulses (tins of beans, chickpeas) 

• Tinned proteins (tuna, chicken, pre-prepared chili etc.) 

• Milk and non-dairy alternatives (shelf stable, eg UHT) 

• Unopened toiletries and hygiene products