1 March, 2021 It’s hard to believe that we are already in March and, like much of 2020, the first couple of months of 2021 have been an extremely busy period for all our staff. The extension of lockdown restrictions has meant that we have had to be agile and flexible with our plans, particularly around Semester 2 teaching and our continuing support for students. Over recent months, the University and the Students’ Union have been lobbying for financial support for students and we were delighted to hear the recent announcement from the Minister for the Economy of a COVID-19 Disruption Payment and other support measures for students. Eligible students will receive a one-off payment to help alleviate the challenges that students have faced as a result of the pandemic. The Department of Health has also announced a one-off payment for student nurses. This government support will bolster the range of interventions that we currently have in place to support students through this challenging time, including the pausing of Queen's Accommodation contracts for students studying from home and increasing the support available through the University's Hardship Fund. All students registered for the academic year 2020-21 are eligible to make an application to the Fund which is there to support students in financial hardship whilst studying and particularly those experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19.