WHAT FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE

Inside the pound shop, the Shop Keeper works his way down an aisle, needlessly price-gunning each item.

SHOP KEEPER
How much does it cost to go to uni? Tch! How much is a piece of string?

He notices the last item he priced; a ball of string - £1.

’Course nowadays you ’ve got your tuition fees - that ’s a few bob. And then there ’s all yer day-to-day expenses like stupid haircuts and micro scooters.

Outside the shopping precinct the Steakhouse Mascot walks down the street, as best as he can.

STEAKHOUSE MASCOT
And what help is there? NONE! You ’re on your own, mate. There ’s no such thing as a free ticket in this country - unless Mummy and Daddy come to the rescue. But after you ’ve blown all their life savings, they ’ll be spending their golden years flogging their kidneys and dancing for pennies. You know what you are? Selfish! You ’re SELFISH!

He regains his composure as though nothing happened; offering a leaflet to a punter.

STEAKHOUSE MASCOT
Meat, meat, fifty-feet further down the High Street...

Back inside the pound shop

SHOP KEEPER
They ’re drownin ’ in debt, aren ’t they? Lyin ’ awake in their filthy hovels, watchin ’ the walls close in; eatin ’ cereal with a fork to save on milk. "You ’re wastin ’ yer time, I tell ’em. While you ’re chuckin ’ your future away, some of us ’ave got work to do."

(Shouting off camera)

You hear that?

The camera whips to another part of the shop where we see Nick dressed in a matching shop keeper ’s uniform, idly texting on his mobile. With a sigh he returns to work; walking down the aisle and pricing up the items.

NICK
Actually, the reality is that going into Higher Education is making an investment in your future. Try to think about the benefits and not just the cost of going to uni. Over their working life, the average graduate will earn about a hundred more in today ’s money than a similar person with A-levels.

And a lack of money NOW needn ’t be a barrier to furthering your education. There ’s a lot of financial support on offer from the government, from non-repayable grants to loans you don ’t have to pay back ’til you start working. You could also get a non-repayable bursary from your uni, or even get a part time job to supplement your income.

In all, some full-time students receive over TEN GRAND a year - that ’s THREE HUNDRED POUNDS per university week. (Refering to the shelves next to him) Think how many deodorants you could get for that. Actually, no don ’t bother; we ’re in a pound shop - they ’re a quid each. You could get three hundred a week if you wanted...