Hello and welcome to the March newsletter from the new Tenancy Sustainment Team!
We're a specialised team who recognises the enormous challenges and pressures on finances and wellbeing that customers have felt over the past few years.
If you need support to improve your financial situation or to sustain a tenancy, please do get in touch. You can read more about how we can help over on our website, where you can fill in a form to contact us, or call Coastline's main number 01209 200200.
Updating rent for Universal Credit
You should have received a letter from Coastline in February/March with your new rent costs from April.
If you receive Universal Credit you need to update your journal in the UC website with the new costs on these dates:
- For monthly tenancies - 1st April 2025
- For weekly tenancies - 7th April 2025
But do please wait until those dates. If you update your journal earlier, you will have to login and do it again.
Financial support
Have you had a look at the Financial Support page on our website? If you're struggling to pay the rent, put food on the table or have concerns around your benefits, we're the team to talk to.
Housing Perks
Coastline customers get Housing Perks, a free app offering discounts at over 100 supermarkets, high street shops and online - up to 10% at many stores and websites.
With Easter on the way it could help you save when buying chocolate eggs for your loved ones!
Find out more on our Housing Perks page, where there's also a video to guide you through the sign-up process.
Blackbird Pie magazine
Have you taken a look at this free magazine for families in Cornwall?
Each issue features lots of ideas for things to do, many of them free or low cost, plus book reviews, information about free online courses, and lots more!
The February and Spring edition is out now, covering events up to Easter. You can read it online at the Blackbird Pie site, and bookmark the page to make sure you don't miss an issue.
Helpful resources
Food banks – some now also provide furniture and bedding amongst other items, so it’s often worth contacting them for advice. Cornwall Council's Help With Food page has a food bank list and map.
Cornwall Council Crisis and Care Awards – Crisis Awards are for people in emergency or disaster situations to help with immediate needs. Care Awards help vulnerable people to live as independently as possible in their community. Visit the Crisis and Care Awards page for full details or call 0300 1234 121 option 2 to make a claim.
Gumtree – this national website is for people to offer items for free or for sale.
Facebook – there are lots of buying and selling pages which are often area based, plus Facebook Marketplace allows you to search by area.
Acts435 – this national crowdfunding website for white goods or other essential items works with organisations in Cornwall. By contacting the local groups they might be able to add an anonymous request to the site on your behalf for items costing up to £200.
GOFA (Good Old Furniture Available) – based in Penzance, this organisation provides affordable household goods to people on low incomes. Head to the website.
Heartlands Furniture – providing preloved furniture to those in receipt of benefits or on a low income at affordable prices from the base in Pool. Follow the Facebook page.
Liskeard Community Treasure Chest CIC – this is a recycling community hub for affordable household items. Find out more on Facebook.