Lancaster Laundry

22 March 2018

To all those who support the fight for better, more affordable laundry:

We hope this letter finds you doing well and prepared to enjoy the upcoming break. Before departing, we wanted to share an update with you all in regards to how the fight is going on the front lines.

On 19 March, a press release was sent out stating that Lancaster Laundry formally sent the letter signed by more than 70 students to the Vice-Chancellor and all of the accommodation managers across campus. As of that press release, we were awaiting a further detailed response from the University.

On 21 March, Lancaster Laundry received a detailed response from Jo Hardman, the Head of Commercial Services. We are excited to say that the tone of the letter was quite welcoming and encouraged us to meet with him to further discuss our grievances.

It is promising that Mr. Hardman showed a commitment to improving laundry services and has shown he is taking the time to work with Circuit Laundry to find where service has been in decline.

It is the intention of Lancaster Laundry to accept this invitation to meet with Mr. Hardman and discuss what can be done in the future to provide our students with better quality, low cost laundry services.

It is also important to note that Circuit Laundry has indicated that they would be happy to meet with students to discuss what they can do to improve service. After the initial meeting with Mr. Hardman, if a meeting with all three parties (students, the University, and Circuit Laundry) is necessary, we will certainly try to get all three to the table.

It is our promise to keep fighting for you in this endeavor and not rest until laundry lies open to all. Until that day, we send our,

Warmest regards,

For Immediate Release: 19 March 2018

LANCASTER, UNITED KINGDOM – On behalf of the more than 70 students who signed onto the open letter regarding laundry services, Lancaster Laundry sent it to the Vice-Chancellor and each accommodation manager across campus on 16 March 2018.

The letter outlined the grievances of the students that have had to deal with the poor conditions of laundry services while living on campus. The letter also outlined possible solutions and beginning ideas for how students would be better satisfied with the services. Each of the students who chose to sign on had their name at the bottom of the letter.

On 19 March 2018, Michelle A. Needham, the senior executive office to the vice-chancellor, responded to the letter. The response was written as followed:

Thank you for your email to the Vice-Chancellor.

We will look into the matter and a more detailed response will be sent to you in due course.

When Lancaster Laundry does receive a more detailed response, that response will be shared publicly via the social media platforms.

Lancaster Laundry hopes that a face-to-face meeting will occur between the four leaders of the Lancaster Laundry and the Vice-Chancellor or those whom are directly responsible for changes in this regard.

“We are proud to have been able to send the letter to the Vice-Chancellor and the accommodation managers across campus,” a senior official of Lancaster Laundry said. “In the coming weeks, we are hopeful meaningul conversation can occur with those responsible for laundry services so that we can get the students of Lancaster University better quality and more affordable laundry services. Laundry must and will lie open to all!”

For more information on Lancaster Laundry, find us on Tumblr at Lancaster Laundry, on Twitter @LancsLaundry, or on Instagram @LancasterLaundry. To become involved with our campaign, find us at events across campus or use the hashtag #DebtLaundrette.

For immediate release: 21 February 2018

LANCASTER, UNITED KINGDOM – Lancaster Laundry, comprised of Elizabeth Ryles, Nicole Thuppathy, Zarina Nigmatulina, and Alexander Hasapis, have launched a campaign to bring better and more affordable laundry services to Lancaster University.

“I am always angry about the fact that you are paying and the machines do not work,” Nicole Thuppathy, a final year student, said. “It is hard to contact Circuit Laundry Services to rectify any issues and it is time we work to bring better services to our students on this campus.”

Circuit Laundry Services is the contracted third party service to provide laundry services to many universities across the United Kingdom, including Lancaster University. Consistently, the services have not been up to the standards that the students of Lancaster University require.

“When I want to do my laundry, I always find water or other filth and hair in the machines left from others before me,” Zarina Nigmatulina, a final year student, said. “The floors are always dirty, slippery, and covered with debris from other users.”

The goal of Lancaster Laundry is to bring each student who has accommodations on campus 10 washes and 10 usages of the dryers included in their accommodation fee, without a rise in fee. Lancaster Laundry also aims to bring a cleaner, safer environment to these facilities so students can get their laundry done with peace of mind.

“I see it all the time, students are constantly walking into the laundry rooms and faced with poor conditions and high prices,” Elizabeth Ryles, a final year student, said. “It is time we stand up and say enough is enough, the time is now to get better services.”

The campaign for better and more affordable services will  run across campus over the coming weeks and will be on the ground and on many social media platforms.

“We are excited to embark on this journey to provide quality services to students on our campus and will not rest until that day is here,” Alexander Hasapis, an international student, said. “It is time that laundry lies open to all.”

For more information on Lancaster Laundry, find us on Tumblr at Lancaster Laundry, on Twitter @LancsLaundry, or on Instagram @LancasterLaundry. To become involved with our campaign, find us at events across campus or use the hashtag #DebtLaundrette.