The high cost of living in Cambridge is forcing low-paid workers to rely on food banks, according to reports from BBC Politics East. As hundreds of University of Cambridge employees strike for a pay supplement, Stephen Thornton, chair of trustees at Cambridge City Foodbank, revealed that even households with jobs are seeking subsidized food.
"People of modest means really struggle with the very high cost of rent," Thornton said. "There is an issue about low pay being able to look after their families."
Unite union member William Ridgeon, who joined picket lines at The Fitzwilliam Museum, said he spends over half his salary on basic accommodation. "I don't think this is sustainable for me or for any young person on an entry-level job to rent in the city," he said. "I break even most months, so have no room for saving."
Unite is calling for a "Cambridge weighting" supplement similar to Oxford University's, which introduced a £1,500 annual local pay supplement in 2024, later increased to £1,730.
A University of Cambridge spokesperson acknowledged the cost-of-living challenges, noting measures such as a 2.5% supplement for lower-paid employees, a higher minimum starting salary for research assistants, and increased paid family leave. "While we regret the industrial action is taking place, we remain committed to open and constructive dialogue with Unite around pay and other issues," they said.
BBC Politics East will air Sunday 24 May at 10:00 GMT on BBC One in the East of England, available after broadcast on BBC iPlayer.