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Hi, I’m Rose, your Communities and Equalities Officer!
At the Inclusive Haircare Pop-Up earlier this year, lots of students shared their experiences about feeling a lack of Afro-Caribbean food options in Exeter. Many spoke about how difficult it can be to find familiar foods and snacks that reflect their culture, and how this can affect their sense of belonging while studying here.
This feedback echoed what we’ve seen in the Guild’s Priorities data, which shows that Black students are among the groups who can struggle more with settling in and feeling at home in Exeter. Several comments specifically highlighted the limited access to culturally familiar foods and snacks in the city.
What we’ve done:
Hearing this clearly from students, I raised this issue with the University and pushed for change. As a result, we’ve worked with campus retailers to improve the range of food available in the Forum Marketplace.
The Forum Marketplace already had a “world foods” section, but the range was limited. Following student feedback, we successfully pushed for this section to be expanded so it now includes a wider selection of African and Caribbean food and snack options.
What it means for students:
Food is an important part of culture, identity and feeling at home. By expanding the food options available on campus, we’re helping make Exeter a place where more of you can see your culture represented.
Having access to familiar foods and snacks can make a big difference to students’ wellbeing and sense of belonging, particularly for those who are living away from home or adjusting to a new environment.
At the same time, having a wider variety of foods available also helps celebrate the diversity of our community. It gives us the opportunity to explore and learn about different cultures through food, helping to create a more inclusive campus for everyone.
What's next?
There is still more work to do. We’re continuing conversations with the University and campus outlets to make sure a diverse range of foods are available across campus, including in Forum Kitchen and other catering spaces.
This includes ongoing work to improve the availability of Halal options and other culturally representative foods across University menus.
Student voices are key to making this happen. If there are still gaps in what’s available, we want to hear from you. Your feedback helps us push for changes that improve students’ sense of belonging and make Exeter a more inclusive place for everyone.