Debt Advice Without Borders: A global week in London

Earlier this month, Toynbee Hall was proud to host members of the Global Credit Counselling Alliance (GCCA) for a three-day study visit in London. The event led by our director of advice services Matt Dronfield brought together representatives from credit counselling organisations in South Korea and the United States to exchange ideas, explore innovative practices, and build stronger international partnerships in debt advice.

A Shared Mission Across Borders

The GCCA was officially formed in May 2024 to bring together nonprofit credit counselling providers from around the world. Its four founding members—Toynbee Hall (UK), the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (USA), Credit Counselling Canada (CCC), and Credit Counseling and Recovery Service (South Korea)—are united in their commitment to improving financial wellbeing in their respective countries. Despite differences in structure and scale, all face similar challenges: rising debt, financial insecurity, and a need for more accessible support services.

Since August 2024, Toynbee Hall has been honoured to serve as the rotating chair of the alliance, continuing our long history of international collaboration and social reform.

Seeing Services in Action

The study visit offered our guests the opportunity to see Toynbee Hall’s work up close—beyond presentations and policy papers. On the first day, delegates visited the Debt Free Advice Centre at Barking Learning Centre, where they learned how face-to-face advice is delivered in community settings. They explored how we integrate technology like Open Banking and manage high-volume client triage, followed by discussions that were honest, challenging, and highly practical.

Later, the group travelled to HMP Brixton, where Toynbee Hall provides confidential debt advice to people in prison through secure video kiosks. Seeing this service in action highlighted the unique challenges and opportunities of delivering financial support in secure settings. Lunch at The Clink Restaurant, run by people in prison, served as a powerful reminder of the values that underpin our work—second chances, dignity, and inclusive support.

History, Innovation and Future Focus

Back at Toynbee Hall, delegates toured our historic home—widely recognised as the birthplace of the Settlement Movement. From the legacies of Samuel and Henrietta Barnett to our modern digital tools and AI-powered solutions, we reflected on how Toynbee Hall has continued to evolve to meet the needs of our communities.

The visit concluded with the Debt Free Advice Annual Conference at London’s City Hall, themed around “Supporting, Strengthening, Simplifying.” Discussions included key innovations such as:

• Open Banking integrations for streamlined financial assessments
• The Debt Free Advice App, offering appointment summaries and self-service features
• MoneyPennie, our AI-powered advisor support tool

Crucially, the conference also focused on how to support the wellbeing of advice workers, recognising that resilience must be built into systems—not just expected from individuals.

A Platform for Global Collaboration

Across all three days, one message was clear: international collaboration is essential. Whether in London, New York, Toronto or Seoul, many of the barriers people face are shared. Delegates left the visit with new tools, ideas, and renewed energy for tackling financial hardship in their own countries.

Our director of advice services Matt Dronfield had this to say about the event as a whole “ This study visit exemplifies the power of global collaboration in tackling the shared challenges of financial insecurity. By bringing together diverse perspectives and innovative practices, we are not only improving debt advice but also forging international partnerships that empower communities worldwide to access the support they need to regain control of their financial futures.”

And Jennifer Pizi, Chief Operating Officer of the NFCC, reflected:

“It’s an honour to be part of a group that’s thoughtful about making a real difference in people’s lives through sharing innovation and best practices.”

Toynbee Hall is excited to continue building on these conversations. Plans are already in motion for future study visits, shared research, and cross-border collaboration. We’re proud to be part of a global movement to make debt advice more accessible, effective, and human.

Stay tuned for more updates from the GCCA and the work we’re doing to drive meaningful change—together.