Welcome to our July Cost of Living newsletter. With the school holidays about to start, we have ideas for things to do over the summer and ways to save money on essentials.
We're here to help, so if you need advice call 01209 200200 and ask to speak to the Tenancy Sustainment Team or your Income Officer. You can also send a message using My Coastline or email income@coastlinehousing.co.uk.
Time2Move summer activities
The Time2Move Holiday Programme provides fun physical activity and healthy food for children aged between 5 and 16 years old during the school holidays in Cornwall.
There's no charge for children that are eligible for benefits related free school meals. You just need your child’s unique code in order to access the activities for free. Find it quickly at:
www.cornwall.gov.uk/time2move
Search and book activities here:
www.activecornwall.org/T2MHolidayProgramme
School uniform
While it's the end of the school year, now might be the time to plan ahead for next term's uniform costs, whether you’re able to start putting money aside now or look at second hand options.
Local children’s clothes banks offer free or lower cost second hand uniform. You can search online to find one near you, but here are two in Cornwall that advertise what's available on their Facebook pages:
Camborne Children's Clothes Bank
Truro Children's Clothes Bank
Start saving now with Housing Perks
Coastline customers can get Housing Perks, a free app offering discounts at over 100 supermarkets, high street shops and online.
You can save up to 10% at stores and websites including ASDA, B&M, Sainsburys, Morrisons, Primark, Argos, TK Maxx and more!
Download the app now from your device's store by searching for 'Housing Perks', and find out more on our Housing Perks page.
Food support
If you are in need of support to access food, Cornwall Council has worked with community organisations to develop a Community Food Support Map. By opening the map you can see what's available near you and how to get help: Help with Food | Let's Talk Cornwall.
At Coastline we may also be able to support you with supermarket vouchers or foodbank vouchers to help if you are struggling. Contact our Tenancy Sustainment Team to have a chat about your circumstances and finances.
Get involved or volunteer
Our Community Investment Team regularly visits Coastline communities to answer questions, consult with customers and share information about how to get involved. You can meet them at:
- Camborne Clothes Bank on the first Tuesday afternoon of the month, 2pm to 4pm
- Helston Community Larder on the second Thursday of the month, 3pm to 4pm
- Camborne Community Larder on the third Monday of the month, 9am to 10:30am
- Transformation CPR food bank on the third Tuesday of the month, 1:30pm to 3:30pm
- Redruth Community Larder the fourth Tuesday of the month, 9am to 10:30am
We also have a volunteer scheme at Coastline. If you have any skills you could offer to help other customers, or want to find out about opportunities, see our volunteering web page or contact the team by emailing getinvolved@coastlinehousing.co.uk.
Support from Kooth
Kooth is a free website and app offering wellbeing support. It has a judgement-free forum to get advice, help others and share your own story. You can find mini activities to boost wellbeing and ask for one-to-one support at www.kooth.com
Household Support Fund
Cornwall Council has secured a further £4.5 million to continue the Household Support Fund until September 2024.
Payments will be made to low-income households to help with energy, water and food costs, as well as other household essentials.
To find out more about the Household Support Fund and who is eligible for help, please visit Household Support Fund - Cornwall Council
Coastline's Sustainability Fund
This fund is to support customers in crisis. An assessment of your situation will be completed to ascertain the circumstances and the level of risk to understand how we can assist you. This assistance will be proportionate and appropriate to the situation, with your best interests at the heart.
In addition to financial support through the Sustainability Fund, Coastline can help directly through advice such as:
- fuel debt advice in the community
- money saving tips
- help with loss of heating/hot water.
Call 01209 200200 and ask for the Tenancy Sustainment Team, send a message using My Coastline, or email income@coastlinehousing.co.uk.