Campaign Aim
Thrive not Survive (TNS) was a KCLSU-led priortiy campaign (alongisde Turn the Tables) to support students amidst the cost-of-living crisis by advocating for: accessible and affordable quality housing; adequate and equitable financial aid; and more flexible and secure tuition fees. With the rising cost-of-living in the United Kingdom, the TNS campaign aimed to support students to help them have the best university experience by tackling financial constraints. TNS aimed to reduce the mental pressure of housing costsfor students across multiple different apects, including tuition fee installments and financial aid while navigating university life.
Campaign Impact
Thrive not Survive successfully lobbied King's to launch a Rent Guarantor Scheme Working Group, to explore the introduction of a rent guarantor scheme to improve international and estranged students' access to housing. The campaign published https://www.kclsu.org/help/financialguide/ to improve transparency and access to financial aid measures at King's.
The campaign launched a survey to understand international students' experiences of tuition fees, and lobbied King's to introduce instalments (in fashion with many other Russell Group Universities), but was met with resistance from King's.
Thrive not Survive was arguably too broad in its scope and tried to tackle too many cocners of student housing related to the cost of living crisis at once. Hearing students' demands and the wider sector, KCLSU povoted to housing, and launched HF's Halls for All campaign in November 2024 — which specifically tackles the soaring costs of King's Residences and the outdated and inaccessible King's Affordable Accommodation Scheme.
Want to get involved?
The fight to improve to quality of life for KCL students in London amid relentless financial forces is persistent. Our Halls for All campaign is currently the best outlet of activism and chnage for studenst determined to contribute in ther fight for affordable housing!