Bringing the Reality of Debt Into the National Conversation
Recently, our Director of Advice Services and Incoming Interim Chief Executive, Matt Dronfield, spoke to a national audience on GB News to highlight debt, financial hardship and how important it can be to access advice services.
Matt discussed how at Toynbee Hall, we know first hand that debt can affect anyone. Every day, our advisers support people from a range of different backgrounds and circumstances. As Matt explained on the air that many people we see are already skilled at managing household budgets and making difficult financial decisions. “Our clients are working multiple jobs and using the gig economy to find extra income”. Debt isn’t simply the result of poor money management. More often, it is the result of unexpected life events that can transform someone’s financial situation almost overnight. Matt explained “it could be a relationship breakdown where you lose half the income, or you’re doing all well and then someone in your family receives a cancer diagnosis, your world changes over night”
These are the kinds of experiences that can turn a manageable financial situation into a crisis, often times through no fault of the person involved.
This is why Toynbee Hall continues to develop services that respond to people’s real-life circumstances. Through Macmillan Money and More, delivered with Macmillan Cancer Support, we help people affected by cancer make their way through the challenges that can go alongside a diagnosis. We are also expanding our Video Advice Kiosk network into 13 prisons across London and the South East, helping people address debt problems while in custody to have a more hopeful path after release. As Matt shared “Debt doesn’t discriminate, it effects people from all walks of life. Debt doesn’t go away just because you’re serving a custodial sentence. And the families outside those gates still need that support”.
The broadcast also provided an opportunity to challenge some of the common misconceptions that still surround debt. Matt highlighted that financial hardship can affect anyone and that many people facing debt are already doing everything they can to manage their finances and increase their income.
By bringing these experiences into a national conversation, we can help build a better understanding of the realities behind debt and encourage more people to seek support when they need it.
Matt also shared some practical steps that can help people take stock of their situation, including writing down their income, spending and financial commitments to get a clearer picture of where they stand. For many people, understanding the full extent of their finances is an important first step towards finding a way forward.
At Toynbee Hall, we remain committed to ensuring that anyone facing financial difficulty can access the support and advice they need. Opportunities to discuss these issues with wider audiences help raise awareness of the challenges people face every day and the importance of accessible, independent debt advice.
If you’re worried about debt and would like free, independent advice, visit:
