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. But through targeting widening participation students, the ability to maximise the impact of the awards is crucial to their metrics. The university focuses on developing financial skills of students receiving the award to help them handle these additional funds, understand the importance of money management, and ultimately, help them thrive in the future.
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 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. This led to increased financial awareness amongst the student group awarded with funds, in turn making it less likely to get to this critical point in the future. Consequently, resulting in decreased number of repeat hardship fund applicants.
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
York St John’s collaborative efforts has 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.”
