Good morning. Isabella here. I was lucky to be invited to the Union Chapel recently, the iconic arts venue once graced by a host of famous faces including Amy Winehouse and Elton John.

It’s also doing incredible work helping people who are facing homelessness and other housing challenges, providing a warm space to come and a hot meal. 

Community services like this are becoming increasingly vital, and there are fears demand will surge in the coming months – especially as cost of living support is set to be scaled back.

In this week’s newsletter, we also meet single mum Tayyaba who is worrying about what will happen to her family without any further cost of living payments. 

As ever, it’s important to stress that there is still help out there if you need it. Read to the end for advice on what benefits you might be eligible to receive in March.

If you have a story to share, we want to listen. Get in touch at isabella.mcrae@bigissue.com or share your story here.

Tayyaba's story: 'Mummy can't afford it'

Tayyaba Siddiqui lies awake at night worrying about how she and her son will survive as the government scales back its cost of living support.

“My shoes have holes in them,” she says. “But I also need to buy shoes for my son. So I have to choose – shoes for me or shoes for him? I buy the shoes for him, of course. Then he asks me, ‘Mummy, will you get new shoes too?’ I don’t want him to know that mummy can’t afford it.”

As the final cost of living payments hit bank accounts, charities fear that the lack of help will push millions of benefits claimants “off a cliff edge”. 

Trained as a physiotherapist, the 49-year-old works as a staff coordinator for the NHS – but her contract has come to an end and the Jobcentre has not found her another role. 

A single parent, she was already on a low income and had to rely on universal credit and the cost of living payments to survive. 

Big Issue reporter Charlotte Elton spoke to Tayyaba. Read her story here.

In case you missed it

More than half of people on universal credit going hungry because they can't afford to eat. The Trussell Trust has released worrying new statistics. Get the latest.

Landlord Tory MPs are trying to 'gut' protections for private renters, analysis shows. After nearly five years of promises, the Renters Reform Bill has still not passed into law. Read about it.

Prince William to build social housing in his back garden to help end homelessness. The future king confirmed 24 homes will be built on Duchy of Cornwall land in Nansledan, Cornwall, for people experiencing homelessness. Get the story.

'It's awkward and stressful': Number of young people needing help with money doubles. Around 66,000 young people approached Citizens Advice for financial support in 2023. Find out more.

Cash-strapped Brits are keeping heat off even when it's cold – as British Gas profits soar tenfold. The energy giant reported profits of £799m in 2023 – up from £72m the year before. Here’s the story.

UK recession is 'devastating' for people living in poverty who have 'nothing left to cut back'. The economy fell into a recession at the end of last year, as households cut back on spending and the Bank of England hiked interest rates in response to inflation. Read more.

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How iconic arts venue graced by Elton John and Amy Winehouse is helping homeless people

The Union Chapel in Islington, London is used to welcoming big crowds of people. It has hosted some of the world’s most iconic performers: Amy Winehouse, Elton John, Nick Cave and Noel Gallagher to name a few.

Tucked away at the back of the chapel, in the bright hours of the day, a different kind of crowd gathers.

Twice a week, on Monday and Wednesday mornings, frontline charity the Margins Project serves up meals to people facing homelessness and other critical living situations. More than 50 people have arrived before 12pm, just halfway through the drop-in session. 

Their kitchen sits alongside a bright open room, with chequered tablecloths laid out on the big square tables. People filter in, some chatting enthusiastically and others keeping quietly to themselves.

Read about my visit to the Union Chapel – and the people I met – here.

Saving those coins: Could you be eligible for benefits and cost of living support in March?

The cost of living crisis continues to be felt deeply by families and individuals across the country, and benefits are failing to stretch far enough.

Inflation remained at a stubborn 4% in December – a reminder that the crisis isn’t over yet.

Help is out there if you need it, and you may be able to claim more in benefits than you think.

We have rounded up everything you need to know about benefits you can claim in March and where to get help if that’s not enough. Read it here.