Staff face stress of looming university redundancy

A staff member at a university campus which is due to close said she had been in bed with chronic pain from the stress of knowing her job was at risk.

The University of Essex referenced "significant financial pressures" when it announced on 2 December that its Southend-on-Sea campus would shut in the summer.

Staff were sent letters seen by the BBC informing them they were at risk of redundancy.

Sophie Kirkham, a programme administrator for the nursing courses at the Southend, said her job was one of the 400 which could be axed across the university's three campuses.

"I deal with chronic illnesses," said Ms Kirkham.

"This is like the first time I've been able to get out of bed in like two weeks because I've been in so much pain.

"The stress of it has just really, really had a massive toll on me."

The university is headquartered in Colchester and also has a campus in Loughton.

Cheyne Truman is a lecturer in adult nursing at Southend - and is studying a masters degree - having completed her undergraduate qualification at the campus.

"It's just not financially viable for me to take up a post in Colchester if I am offered one, because that isn't even guaranteed at this point, because it would be in real terms a pay cut for me," she explained.

"I feel awful for my students. I feel absolutely dreadful. I just don't know what I'm going to do. I've got until the end of January to decide if I'm going to take voluntary redundancy or do I take the risk and wait it out and hope that I might get a job in Colchester, which I can't afford to do.

"And for what I do, there's just nothing in the market, whether as an academic or even as a nurse.

"There's just no jobs out there at the moment."

The Labour MP for Southend East and Rochford, Bayo Alaba, met with students and staff in the city - including Ms Kirkham - on Friday morning.

He said he had been told some students had already dropped off their courses because they "cannot see a scenario" where they stay studying in Southend.

"We've got students who are first and second year who may not graduate and there's no solution at the moment. Not everybody can commute, it's not logistically practical," he said.

"There's a high proportion of mature students here as well.

"Yes some students will be able to relocate but the vast majority won't so it's frustrating to hear that today."

Alaba says he has written to the education secretary regarding the closure, and was talking to government departments for advice supporting students and staff.

The university says the number of academic posts is being reduced by about 200 this academic year, and about 200 professional service roles will be cut over the next two years.

All courses - including 800 students - are due to be transferred from Southend to Colchester.

The University of Essex says it is offering students £600 support payments to eligible students affected, and additional "support packages for students in different circumstances".

A spokesperson said no-one had withdrawn from their courses and that it was holding Q&As in the coming weeks for people affected.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Frances Bowen said: "The Southend campus will remain fully open until summer 2026 and we will be ensuring all students have access to accurate information and practical advice about our decision."

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.