Durham University has started to sell leftover college meals for £2, to help with the cost of living crisis, and reduce food waste - and anyone can have them.

This comes as the university is seeing lower engagement with extracurriculars, and is having to support more and more students financially, as cost increasingly becomes a barrier for many. 

Hot and cold meals costing only £2 are being sold to students, staff members, and the general public in an effort to provide an affordable option for meals, and to curb the amount of food waste the university produces. 

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This is the latest scheme to help struggling students - with efforts being made across the university to keep studying accessible and to supply students with cheap, quick and easy food. 

Meals are being sold through the food waste app Too Good To Go, which partners with businesses, offering 'magic bags' of leftover food for the day at significantly reduced prices.

These meals would regularly cost catered students £3.95 each, meaning they are available for around half price - giving students living out of college a chance to eat a hearty hot meal.

The Northern Echo: St Mary's College, Durham University, have begun to sell leftover food at reduced rates to battle the cost of living crisis. Picture: Too Good To GoSt Mary's College, Durham University, have begun to sell leftover food at reduced rates to battle the cost of living crisis. Picture: Too Good To Go (Image: Too Good To Go)

The colleges that are currently involved in the scheme are St Mary’s College, Van Mildert College, St Cuthbert’s Society, Hatfield College, and University College, offering meals to staff and students. Members of the public are able to purchase £2 meals from Zing Kitchen at the TLC, Circolo Restaurant at The Palatine Centre, the Maiden Castle café, and Fusion Restaurant at the Business School.

This is Durham University's latest move to assist those struggling with the cost of living, having already allocated more money to the Student Support Fund, and amending the upper limit for the Durham Grant Scheme. 

The University's Bill Bryson Library has also begun to provide students with cereal from 8 am to 9 am on weekdays, ensuring that everyone is able to eat breakfast before beginning lectures. 

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Rex Munson, Junior Common Room President of St Mary's College, told The Northern Echo: "This is a trial scheme that the university has organised, so if it goes well it should be rolled out across the sight. Currently, St Mary's is offering about 10 meals a day, and they are selling out.

"JCRs and the SU are looking into the cost of living, but it is disproportionately affecting students. Colleges have made moves to lessen the impact - such as covering Freshers Week and JCR fees for those who receive the Durham Grant.

"But, we are still seeing low engagement across the board, both in colleges and in university-wide societies. This is probably due to cost barriers, and people having to prioritise things that they want to do because of their finances."

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