CSAN welcomes flagship report into impact of debt upon children

Today, The Children’s Society in partnership with StepChange launches a national campaign entitled The Debt Trap. The purpose of the campaign is three-fold: to expose the impact problem debt is having on families and children, to understand how and why debt can escalate out of control, and to put pressure on decision-makers to put steps in place to prevent financial difficulty turning into severe debt.

The Right Reverend Terence Brain, Chair of Trustees of Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) and Bishop of Salford, joined with leading figures from the Church of England, the United Reformed Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the Methodist Church to add his voice of support to the campaign: “Families across the country are struggling: they face incredibly difficult choices between heating their homes and putting food on the table, often parents themselves are going without in order to provide for their children. It is all too easy for families in this situation to think that they have no option but to borrow money, just so they can provide the basics for their children. Yet, for many, debt can quickly spiral out of control and just makes their situation impossible to escape.

Helping families in problem debt has to be part of the Church’s mission to tackle poverty in our own communities.”

The Debt Trap campaign, launched today at a reception in Parliament hosted by Paul Blomfield MP, focuses on the results of a new report which reveals that two and a half million children in the UK are in families living with problem debt. Whereas previous research has investigated the effect of debt on adults or upon mental health, this report is the first of its kind as it examines the impact of debt on children.

From suffering a lack of basic necessities, to enduring family breakdown and bullying at school, children are often the innocent victims of problem debt. Research conducted by The Children’s Society found that around a third of families living with debt said they had cut back on food within the last month, with a similar proportion saying they had done the same with heating, just so they could keep up with repayments.

Responding to the findings of The Debt Trap report, Helen O’Brien, Chief Executive of CSAN commented: “CSAN supports the recommendations of The Children’s Society report. We call on decision-makers to change the future for the next generation through proper financial education for young people; better access to affordable loans; and the end to an advertising culture that promotes quick-fix credit solutions.”

Commenting on The Debt Trap campaign, Kathleen Pitt, Chief Executive of Nugent Care which provides support to families across the Archdiocese of Liverpool, said: “This campaign from The Children’s Society highlights many of the issues facing the families with whom we work who are struggling to make ends meet.

Problem debt is like a game of Snakes and Ladders. It only takes a period of unemployment, a bout of illness, or an increase in rent to throw budgets off-kilter. The more families struggle, the more they feel the need to borrow and the greater the level of emotional stress, social pressure, and even guilt, that children experience.

For some reason, a stereotype has developed that people in debt are to blame for their circumstances, caused by foolhardiness and frivolity. This could not be further from the truth. Problem debt can happen to anyone at any time – and we strongly support the work The Children’s Society is undertaking to stop this trend.”

CSAN comprises 40 member charities working with children living in poverty, older people, the homeless, travellers, disabled people, and others on the margins of society. More information about CSAN projects can be found at: www.csan.org.uk/ptmember/

For more information about The Debt Trap campaign see: www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-you-can-do/campaign-join/debt-trap-end-damage-children