Financial Inclusion

Financial Inclusion and this section of the website covers:

• Benefit Issues - Help is at hand if you are struggling to get your benefit claims resolved, or you need help to complete an application for any benefits. 
• Finance Checks - Book or find out more about Finance Checks.
• Debt Advice Appointments - Book or find out more about Debt Advice Appointment.  
• Help with your bills - Saving money on your gas, electric and water bills.
• Banking, Loans and Budgeting - Information about Bank accounts, Coastal Credit Union accounts and basic budgeting advice.
• Facebook -  To reach as many people as possible, we have created a Facebook page where we will be providing regular updates and money saving tips, value and healthy recipes/meals, events, competitions and more.  You will find the link to our Facebook Page on this section of the website.
• Free Advertising for Self employed residents -  We know a lot of our residents are self employed and some businesses are struggling in the current economic climate.  To try to help our self employed residents PHP are offering free advertising in our various publications.
• Classified Ads - Advertise your unwanted items for sale here for free or see if you can pick up a bargain.  Also free advertising for lost / found and wanted items too. 
• Competitions - Details of current competitions along with photos and details of previous competitions and prize winners.
• Problem Pages - If you have a money related problem, send it in and see if we can help.

What is Financial Inclusion?

The government defines financial inclusion as 'ensuring everyone has the opportunity to access the financial services and products needed to participate fully in modern day society and the economy.'

This would include products such as:

• Bank accounts - where pay or benefits can be paid into and Direct debits / standing orders can be paid from
• Access to affordable credit
• Home Insurance

There are currently 2.8 million adults in the UK without access to reliable financial advice, bank accounts or affordable credit. These people may not realise it, but they are being penalised for not using services that many people take for granted.

This is where  the 'Your Money' project will take a lead role.  It will explain to people where they can go to get the best money advise and also provide information about maximising their income and minimising their financial outgoings.

To ensure the delivery of the 3 year program the government's Financial Inclusion Taskforce has been created, see their link to the right of this page for more information.