Students told to fork out on £220 meal deal before University of Essex performs U-turn

First year Creative Writing student Amy Lovatt lives on the Wivenhoe campus of the University of Essex.

She said she had to self-isolate after someone from her social bubble felt unwell and had to take a coronavirus test.

Read more >>> Uni bosses offer free food for isolating students

The results have since come back negative but during her period of self-quarantine, Amy, 24, says it was suggested she ordered a food package from Essex Essentials.

The website is run by the university and sells everything students might need to use while living away from home from meals to cleaning items or bedding.

The special quarantine food packages, advertised as being for “self-isolating students only”, include breakfast, lunch and dinner for 14 days.

But they come with a price tag of £220.

Any orders of the meals are delivered directly to the self-isolating student so they do not have to leave their room.

But the cost of £220 was too rich for Amy’s palate and she instead called on the generosity of the wider university community to pick-up much cheaper shopping.

“I asked the university via email about getting food and the response was to suggest the meal plan,” she said.

“I did specify I only needed a few items but in the end a stranger had to go and get them for me.

“I had more help from strangers on social media than the university.

“After speaking to other people I know they say they spend just £35 a week on food so the cost of the meal plan is ridiculous.

“Considering the costs I already pay, for reduced access to learning, some food wouldn’t bankrupt them.”

At the time a spokesman for the university, which has now halved the prices of it meals, said the institution is doing all it can to accommodate students during an unprecedented period.

Bosses at the University of Essex, however, later said they will be providing free essential food boxes to all self-isolating households.

They have also agreed to more than halve the cost of meal plans, with the seven-day plan now costing £50 and the 14-day plan being reduced to £100.

Any students who have already purchased the meal plans at the higher prices, or the essential food boxes which are now free, will now be reimbursed by the university.

Academic registrar, Richard Stock, said: "We've listened to our students and we want to provide extra support to them as they face the challenge of self-isolating as a household.

"Every household on our campuses will be receiving a free essential food box to help them if they have to self-isolate.

"We will then support them in ordering their shopping from online supermarkets and get it delivered to their accommodation.

"Or they can choose one of our meal plans, which again will be delivered directly to them.

"We will keep listening to our students to understand how best to support them."