Struggling with debt is a year-round reality for many; however, Debt Awareness Week provides a dedicated space to destigmatise these challenges and offer a way forward. At a time when the cost of living continues to impact households, knowing where to turn for help can make a life-changing difference.

Our dedicated debt team provide practical, compassionate support to help individuals regain control of their finances. We believe that everyone deserves access to clear, straightforward guidance when facing financial difficulties. That’s why we provide free advice on dealing with debt, including support with budgeting and ways to maximise income.

We believe that everyone deserves access to clear, practical support when facing financial difficulties. That’s why we offer free, confidential advice to help people understand their options and take control of their finances.

Our service covers all aspects of debt support, including help with budgeting, guidance on managing repayments, and tailored advice based on individual circumstances. We also support clients to understand the solutions available to them and make informed decisions about the best way forward.

Our experienced team has supported people facing a wide range of financial challenges, including complex debt situations and, in some cases, court proceedings or enforcement action.

We work closely with each client to understand their circumstances and identify the most appropriate solution. This may include negotiating affordable repayment plans with creditors or supporting applications for formal debt solutions such as a Debt Relief Order, which can provide a pathway to becoming debt-free for those who meet the eligibility criteria.

Alongside debt advice, we provide support in a range of areas that can help ease financial pressure and improve overall financial wellbeing:

• Benefits checks to ensure clients are receiving all the financial support they are entitled to, including Universal Credit and other relevant benefits

• Energy advice to help reduce gas and electricity costs, access available schemes, and improve household efficiency

• Housing advice for those struggling with rent or mortgage payments, including support with arrears and understanding available options

• Income and budgeting support to help manage day-to-day expenses and make finances more sustainable

• Access to grants and additional support schemes where available

Above all, our aim is to provide reassurance, clarity, and practical support, helping people move forward with confidence and peace of mind.

We are proud of the tangible difference our team has made in people’s lives throughout 2025 helping people regain control of their finances and feel more secure, here are just some of the key stats highlighting the huge impact our support has had:

• Supporting many clients to prevent bailiff action and feel safer in their homes

• Achieving total debt write-offs of £761,100

• Income gain through one off payments, fuel vouchers and maximising income £168,769

• Preventing evictions by placing clients into Breathing Space, giving crucial time to address debts

• Helping 1583 clients across 7091 issues take positive steps towards financial stability

Here are some examples of clients who recently presented to us with Debt issues and what support we provided to help them find a way forward:

Preventing Eviction Through Early Support

Our client came to us while struggling with multiple debts, including significant mortgage arrears. She had reached a critical point as an eviction date had been set, and after receiving a final eviction notice, she knew she needed help.

The client was also managing several health conditions and requested a face-to-face appointment. During this meeting, we worked together to fully understand her situation. We created a detailed budget and talked through the options available to address her mortgage arrears.

At the time, the stress of potentially losing her home was having a serious impact on her mental health. Like many people in similar situations, she wasn’t aware that there were practical solutions available.

We explained options such as Breathing Space, which could offer temporary protection from creditor action, and discussed the possibility of spreading her mortgage arrears over the remaining term of her loan to make repayments more manageable.

After considering her options, she chose to proceed with a plan to spread the arrears across the remaining mortgage term.

Once we had verified her identity and income, we contacted her lender on her behalf. We were able to successfully negotiate an affordable monthly repayment arrangement, in addition to her regular mortgage payment.

The client made her first payment and the outcome was incredibly positive. The lender confirmed that legal action would be withdrawn, meaning the scheduled eviction would no longer go ahead.

The client was understandably relieved and happy with the outcome. She told us more than once that without the advice and support she received, she didn’t believe she would have been able to achieve this result.

This story is a powerful reminder that help is available and that it can make all the difference.

Challenging Unfair Bills and Finding Relief

Our client came to us after dealing with an ongoing dispute with her water supplier, for over five years. Despite her water usage being relatively low, she had been receiving unusually high bills, and no clear explanation or resolution had been provided.

Over time, arrears built up on her account in excess of £4,000. Although she had been making regular payments, she was unaware that she wasn’t on an agreed repayment plan. As a result, deductions began to be taken directly from her Universal Credit to repay the debt.

This situation had a significant impact on her financial stability and mental health, leaving her feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to turn.

We worked closely with her to understand the full situation and advocate on her behalf. We supported her in negotiating with United Utilities, helping her access their Back on Track scheme and apply to the United Utilities Trust Fund.

Following a detailed application explaining her circumstances, the client was awarded £2,802.91 from the Trust Fund. This reduced her outstanding balance to under £1,000—a huge step forward.

In addition, further investigations are now underway by United Utilities to assess whether allowances can be backdated due to the long-standing billing issues. If successful, this could reduce her remaining arrears even further.

The impact of this support has been life-changing. The client expressed immense gratitude and shared that, for the first time in a long while, she feels able to sleep at night.

This story highlights the importance of seeking advice, even in long-running or complex situations. There may be solutions available that you’re not aware of, and support can make a real difference.

A Fresh Start Through Debt Relief Orders

Recently, we supported seven different clients in successfully applying for Debt Relief Orders (DROs). Together, this will result in a total of £151,979 of debt being written off, giving each of these individuals the opportunity for a genuine fresh start.

A Debt Relief Order is a formal debt solution designed for people with low income, minimal assets, and relatively low levels of debt. It provides protection from creditors for a period of 12 months. During this time, individuals are not required to make payments towards the debts included in the order, and creditors cannot take enforcement action against them.

If a person’s financial situation hasn’t improved after those 12 months, the debts are written off completely.

For many of the clients we support, living with unmanageable debt can be overwhelming. It often impacts not just their finances, but their mental health, relationships, and overall wellbeing. Many are unaware that solutions like a Debt Relief Order even exist, or assume they won’t qualify.

In these seven cases, we worked closely with each client to fully understand their circumstances, ensure they met the eligibility criteria, and guided them through the application process step by step. This included reviewing their income and expenditure, identifying all outstanding debts, and making sure a DRO was the most appropriate solution for their situation.

Now that their applications have been approved, these clients are protected from further creditor action and can begin to rebuild their financial stability without the constant pressure of unmanageable debt.

For these clients, this marks the beginning of a new chapter free from the burden of debt that once felt impossible to overcome.

This is a powerful reminder that no matter how difficult things may feel, there are solutions available. Seeking advice can open the door to options that provide not just financial relief, but peace of mind and hope for the future.

Unsure if we can support you with your debt issue?  Take a look at the top issues we supported clients with to find a way forward in 2025.

• Debt Assessments
• Council Tax Arrears
• Fuel Debts
• Credit, Store & Change Card Debts
• Unpaid Parking Tickets
• Water Supply & Sewage Debts
• Rent Arrears With Private Landlords
• Unsecured Personal Loan Debts
• Rent Arrears With Local Authority and Arms Length Management Organisations
• Other Debts

Debt can feel overwhelming, but as we have demonstrated, support is available and solutions exist. Debt Awareness Week is a reminder that taking the first step, seeking advice can lead to meaningful change.

If you or someone you know is struggling with debt, reach out. Our team is here to help you find a way forward.

www.cabb.org.uk/get-help

Debt can also take a toll on your mental health. Feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed is normal, but you don’t have to face it alone. If you need someone to talk to, Samaritans offer confidential support 24/7: https://www.samaritans.org