Focus of the Fund 
The Fund emphasises the covering of day-to-day living expenses of vulnerable students, such as access to meals, basic toiletries, accommodation/rent, medication, eye tests and the provision of spectacles to enable effective studying, and home travel for emergencies such as the death of an immediate family member.  
 
We believe that no student’s socio-economic status should determine their optimal functioning during their studies, nor affect their cognitive, emotional and educational well-being. The UGSID Fund is an agile response to urgent and emergent needs. This Fund is different from other single-facet initiatives — such as the UCT Food Sovereignty Programme established by the Department of Student Affairs (DSA), which provides short-term food assistance.  
 
Fund performance 
Since its inception, the Fund has received donations of R746 105.21 and provided urgent financial support to over 400 students.
 
This aid is for a short period while a more sustainable plan is secured. These small grants will normally not be repaid by students, except where the recipient has adequate funding but may be experiencing delays in accessing their funds.