The challenge
Decrease the number of repeated hardship fund applications
In their 3rd year of working with Blackbullion, York St John University is looking at optimizing their hardship fund application process to further ensure the best possible support for students. The University is facing the challenge of a shrinking hardship fund pot – through targeting widening participation students, the ability to maximise the impact of the awards is crucial to their metrics.
The objectives
- Reduce students’ need for hardship funding, thereby reducing the number of applications
- Engage higher numbers of widening participation students
Blackbullion is at the core of everything we do, and I just think the more it can be out there, the better.
The solutions
Full integration of Blackbullion into the hardship fund
York St John University modified the terms and conditions of their hardship fund awards to include the compulsory completion of 2 Blackbullion modules. The terms state the student will receive 50% of funds upon the application, while the other 50% will be released once the learning is completed.
Solutions in use
It is brilliant because we can sign students up and they can discover the value of the product on their own.
The impact
This led to increased financial awareness amongst the student group awarded with funds, which in turn made it less likely they would reach this critical point of needing hardship funding again in the future. This has resulted in a decreased number of repeat hardship fund applicants.
York St John’s collaborative efforts have resulted in an almost 25% drop in hardship fund applications.
2015/16
Students awarded
Funds paid out
2016/17
Students awarded
Funds paid out
Many students applying for the hardship funds are just being ‘handed over’ the money, and it is possible they will mismanage the funds. With Blackbullion we can teach them what to do with the money, and possibly help them develop new skills for the future.
