The DSU Pantry: Supporting Students Through the Cost of Living Crisis

At De Montfort Students’ Union (DSU), our priority is always our students. In light of the ongoing cost of living crisis, we’re proud to announce a new initiative to make a real difference: The DSU Pantry.

This project has been developed to help tackle food insecurity, offering students free access to essential food items. It’s more than a temporary measure—it’s about creating a lasting, sustainable solution for students in need.

Collaborative Effort This initiative came to life thanks to the hard work of our Executive Officers, including Adejumoke “Fluffy” Adewola (Welfare Executive Officer), Komal Shahzadi (Equality and Diversity Officer), and Gurupriya Karasala (Opportunity and Engagement Officer).

The proposal presented to the University Leadership Board (ULB) included two ideas:

1. A Free Meal Scheme, giving students one free meal per week.
2. The DSU Pantry, a sustainable project to provide food essentials for students experiencing financial hardship.

After careful consideration, the ULB decided to prioritise The DSU Pantry for its immediate and long-term impact.

Behind the scenes, this wouldn’t have been possible without the research and advocacy of Andrew Reynolds, DSU’s Head of Income Generation and Marketing. By gathering insights from other universities with similar initiatives, Andrew ensured the project was grounded in evidence and best practices.

Why The DSU Pantry Matters The cost of living crisis is a challenge we can’t ignore. For many students, food insecurity impacts not only their physical health but also their mental well-being and academic success.

The DSU Pantry aims to:

• Provide free, stigma-free access to food essentials.
• Alleviate financial pressures on students.
• Create a supportive community environment where students feel valued.

Speaking about the initiative, Fluffy Adewola shared: “This is a huge win for our students. The DSU Pantry is a tangible solution to the challenges they face. It’s about meeting a real need, and I’m so proud to see this come to life.”

What’s Next? With operational planning starting in early 2025, there’s plenty of work ahead to make The DSU Pantry a reality. Key steps include:

• Preparing a dedicated space within the Students’ Union.
• Securing resources to ensure students have consistent access to essentials.
• Finalising timelines and budgets to get everything up and running.

A Shared Success The DSU Pantry is a reminder of what’s possible when the University and Students’ Union work together to benefit students. We’re grateful to the University Leadership Board for recognising the importance of this project and to every student whose feedback inspired us to push for this change.

We’ll share more updates as planning progresses, but for now, we’re excited to take this first step toward a more supportive, inclusive campus for all.

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