As students from across Scotland meet today at NUS Scotland Conference in Edinburgh, President Ellie Gomersall welcomes new Cabinet Secretary for Education, Jenny Gilruth, and urges them to support their Fighting For Students campaign.
Gomersall’s message goes as follows:
“I congratulate Jenny on her appointment to Cabinet Secretary for Education.
“This is a time of turmoil for students, NUS Scotland’s latest Cost of Survival report found that 52% of students have skipped a meal because of lack of money, 11% have used a foodbank, 45% have gone without heating, 35% have been unable to pay their rent in full, and 12% of students had experienced homelessness.
“Together, we can work together to improve students’ living conditions by reintroducing the rent freeze on purpose-built student accommodation, increasing financial support for all students, including postgraduate and further education students, introduce half-price public transport for all students all day, and reintroduce government funding for essential student mental health services.
“I look forward to working constructively to improve the lives of students throughout Scotland.”
