Chartwells Universities and Northumbria University are relaunching their app-powered food and drink credit initiative for a second year, following the success of the scheme’s rollout in September 2025. The initiative, which provides £100 of app credit to all students living in university accommodation for the first time, forms a key part of the partners’ commitment to enhancing student experience and supporting cost-of-living needs.
Funded by Northumbria University and delivered through Chartwells’ UniFoodHub app, the scheme has enabled 3,500 students to redeem credit across on-campus food, drink and social spaces. The initiative has been designed to help new arrivals settle into campus life with greater financial confidence and has encouraged them to explore campus facilities and strengthen their sense of belonging from day one.
Designed to build community connections and create inclusive, supportive campus environments, the initiative responds directly to cost-of-living pressures, while encouraging students to engage in social and academic life at university. Feedback from students and parents has been overwhelmingly positive, with families praising the partnership for taking proactive steps to support wellbeing and everyday living.
The impact has been significant. The initiative contributed to Northumbria University’s biggest-ever sales month in October 2025, with more than £500,000 spent across campus outlets. Students who received the credit are forming lasting habits around using the app and visiting campus facilities – helping to build a vibrant, connected campus community. Following its success in year one, Chartwells and Northumbria University have expanded where credit can be redeemed. Students can now use it across campus cafes, the app’s delivery service and the Students’ Union restaurant, offering greater choice, convenience and flexibility.
The partners will now repeat the initiative for the next cohort to join the campus in September 2026, supported by new investment in till software that will allow students to scan their app wallets directly at till points, creating a faster purchasing experience.
Alongside direct student support, Chartwells has introduced social enterprise vending across the Northumbria estate, offering a curated range of products from social enterprises and B Corp-certified suppliers. Designed on site and new to the wider Chartwells portfolio, the concept gives students everyday opportunities to make ethical purchasing choices while directly supporting businesses with a social purpose. The vending offer has been so well received that it is now being considered as a scalable model for other university campuses.
Together, these initiatives reflect a shared belief that campus food and drink should do more than serve meals – it should actively contribute to belonging, wellbeing and opportunity.
David Jackson, Director of Campus Experience at Northumbria University, said:
“Supporting our students goes beyond the classroom and introducing the app credit has been a powerful way to do this. It not only helps with the cost-of-living, but also encourages students to explore the campus and connect with each other. As a result, we have seen the app become an accessible tool to help students settle in and make the most of the community on offer.”
Rachel Carter, Managing Director at Chartwells Universities, added:
“Our partnership with Northumbria University is built on shared values around inclusion, opportunity and student wellbeing. The food credit is a great example of how we can enhance the student experience. The strong uptake shows how valuable this kind of support is, and we’re proud to work with Northumbria University to create a campus experience where students feel connected.”