I was amazed and annoyed to read the article on the abuse of hardship funds. I lived at home and worked part time to fund my way through my first degree. Applying for hardship funds was a lengthy and messy process because of the amount of evidence you had to provide. Friends who were single parents and who needed the money to survive struggled to get any help.
I find it really upsetting that it is a different case at other institutions and that students who don't need the cash can simply tick a box and receive more money to fund their social lives.
Rachel Evans
Manchester Metropolitan University