"The seaside city of Southend-on-Sea, on England's east coast, looks grey on a winter afternoon in term-time. Its cobbled high street, bordering the university campus, is sparsely populated with market stalls, vape shops and discount retailers, and feels unusually quiet. There used to be lots of shops, restaurants and youth clubs around here, says 23-year-old Nathan Doucette-Chiddicks. Now, the city is about to lose something else that it can scarcely do without."
"Doucette-Chiddicks, a student on the adult nursing course, describes himself as Southend through and through. He wears Southend United merchandise from head to toe and has lived in the town all his life. The campus is just a few doors from his home and, for him, has long symbolised possibility for the people who live here. His mother is now an A&E nurse and he wants to follow in her footsteps."
Southend-on-Sea’s town centre appears subdued during term-time, with a sparse high street and fewer amenities. Essex University will close its Southend campus this summer following a large fall in international student numbers who paid higher fees. The closure will affect around 800 students and numerous staff, and threatens local jobs, services and economic activity tied to the campus. Local students view the campus as a nearby source of opportunity and professional aspiration, with family links to healthcare careers. Many English coastal towns experience disproportionate youth poverty, poor housing, lower educational attainment and limited employment prospects.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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