A Newcastle University student society organised a litter pick around Jesmond and West Jesmond last week to fundraise for international students in the UK, who are being forced to use food banks.

People & Planet is a national student network in the UK which aims to create environmental and social justice.

The Newcastle branch of the organisation at Newcastle University has recently taken part in their newest campaign ‘Undoing Borders’ which they say tackles “the policing of international students and workers by Newcastle University as part of a racist anti-immigration policy by the UK Home Office.”

Speaking to JesmondLocal, President of People & Planet Newcastle, Katie Farley says she came up with the idea of a litter pick in Jesmond after the recent incident on the Town Moor, when many people gathered together despite covid regulations.

“We went ourselves and we saw how crazy it got there and how much rubbish there was,” she said. “People didn’t really have much regard for how they were disposing of their rubbish so it just seemed like a logical thing to do to raise money.”

The litterpick is part of the wider ‘Undoing Borders’ campaign to raise awareness for the rights and struggles of international students.

The money raised by the litter-pick will go directly to local food banks, which are increasingly being used by international students who are financially struggling during the pandemic.

Farley said this particular campaign “is about the rights of international students and migrant workers on campus and just trying to break down the borders that the university has put between migrant workers and equality on campus.”

She said international students face unequal treatment, such as higher university fees, lack of access to financial and other support, and the threat of deportation if they do not attend enough lectures.

One Northumbria University international student, who asked for anonymity, told JesmondLocal: “I lost my part-time job due to [the] pandemic and my parents had some financial problems as well. I did not receive any financial help from the university.”

“I know that most financial help uni is offering is targeted mostly at British students so that’s where the issue starts,” they said.

The student has now returned to Poland because of the pandemic but she said: “I feel really sorry for all of the students that are still staying there and facing the same problems.”

As part of the campaign People & Planet Newcastle will be meeting with Vice-Chancellor of Newcastle University Chris Day on March 1st to discuss the treatment of international students on campus.

Farley told JesmondLocal that in preparation for this meeting the society has created a survey for international students to share their experiences.

“We’ve had a lot of responses that have been quite distressing actually,” she explained. “A lot of people are sharing very upsetting stories of what they’ve gone through as a cost of being an international student.”

The fundraiser currently stands at £935, and all proceeds will go to Newcastle West End Food Bank and The People’s Kitchen Newcastle. You can visit the donation page here.