Vice-Chancellor Sasha Roseneil wrote to all staff this afternoon. You can read her full email below:

Dear colleagues,  

After the upheavals of the pandemic, soaring inflation and the unfolding of the cost of living crisis are subjecting people across the country and within our own community to unprecedented challenges. Against this backdrop, the University’s leadership team has been putting together a plan to support staff and students as we move into winter. Our priority is to focus this support on those in the greatest need.

Back in July, as one of the outcomes of negotiations with UCU, we made a one-off payment to all members of staff, ranging from £900 for Grades 1 to 6 to £300 for Grade 10 staff. Then in September we achieved accreditation as a Real Living Wage employer, and we started paying the new rate for the Real Living Wage, announced in late September, from 1 October. 

Today, I am writing to let you know that we have now agreed a package of support for both staff and students, which, including the actions we have already taken, amounts to around £6.6m. This is in addition to the final UCEA offer on the annual cost of living increase for staff (which was weighted towards the lower-paid staff) and contractual incremental progression for many staff.  

We will make a second, progressive, non-consolidated payment to staff, weighted towards those on the lowest salaries. Following feedback from trade union colleagues, these payments will be staggered across the winter, from November to March for Grades 1-7 and a single lump-sum payment for Grades 8 and 9.  

For students, we are increasing the hardship fund, which is open to all students in need, home and international, at all levels – by £750k - and the Sussex Fund (supported by alumni and staff donations) is adding a further £200k hardship support. We will keep demand on these funds under review, increasing them if needed over the coming months. We are also making an additional payment of £200 to all 3,000 Sussex Bursary recipients (with a parental household income of less than £25k per annum), and we will be paying the Real Living Wage to all students working for the University, including our 275 Student Connectors. We have established a joint University-USSU cost of living working group that is exploring a wide range of ways in which we can further support students, practically and financially, through the difficult times ahead. 

In addition, there are a number of money-saving benefits and discounts already available to all Sussex staff, including discounts on public transport and car parking charges frozen at pre-pandemic levels, to which we are adding a programme of free financial advice. We are also working with our caterers to ensure there are subsidised low-cost food options on campus, and will be providing a range of vegan and vegetarian hot meals for £2 across the winter period. The Too Good to Go app also continues to both save users money and minimises food waste.  

You can find out more here about benefits, discounts, and support.  

After the negotiations between the University and UCU over the summer – for which I am very grateful to everyone involved - and the recent announcement of the agreement reached across a large number of issues, I am committed to continuing to improve Sussex’s employment policy and working conditions for all staff, and to do all that we can to support those facing the most challenging circumstances over the coming months.   

With my very best wishes, 

Sasha Roseneil  

Vice-Chancellor