Debt issues rising in North Yorkshire

A Yorkshire charity says the number of people presenting with debt issues has more than doubled recently – but people are only seeking support as a last resort.

North Yorkshire Citizens Advice and Law Centre has seen a 106.8% rise in people presenting with debt issues over the last 18 months.

What’s more, they have also seen a 51% rise in demand for crisis support, including the need for food bank referrals.

Laura Randles, the charity’s Energy Project Manager, said:

“The demand has been increasing since the start of the cost-of-living crisis in 2021 really.

“The cost-of-living payments helped but when people have explored all their avenues, they come to us as a last resort.

“When clients come to us, we do a full exploration of their situation and look at all the resources available to help them. Are there any ways to increase their income? Are they receiving all the benefits they’re entitled to? Are there any other ways to help them save money on their bills? It’s about making them aware of the things that are available to them.”

Gillian Grimes, Head of Operations and Energy at the charity, said:

“People have been robbing Peter to pay Paul. We were fortunate to have the Household Support Fund and the fuel vouchers to support people, but people have still been accumulating debt issues, and now we’re having to deal with that.

“Clients come to us in crisis. Inflation is coming down, but prices aren’t. There’s been a huge increase in people attending food banks, and we can refer straight into them, but one of the biggest things is teaching people about what benefits they can claim. Many people receiving benefits now are doing so for the first time in their lives. There’s a huge amount of welfare that goes unclaimed each year.”

In the last year, the charity has supported almost 1,500 people and identified more than £1.1m in income gain through benefit checks, energy saving, and crisis support in the form of food and fuel vouchers.

Over 55% of the charity’s clients have said its service has provided short-term relief for them, giving them space to be able to sort longer-term issues.

Some 81% of the people supported by North Yorkshire Citizens Advice and Law Centre have presented with an issue around paying for the energy they use.

Laura says some of most impactful things that have made a difference to people’s lives are the simplest, including turning off lights and electrical appliances, turning their washing machines down from 40 degrees to 30 degrees and only filling kettles with the water they need there and then.

One of those people was Polly*, a 26-year-old single mother living in a housing association property. On a low income and struggling with her health, Polly’s cooker was broken, her house had damp issues and she was awaiting the outcome of a benefit assessment.

The Citizens Advice team swept into action, making a successful application for a new cooker through British Gas Energy Trust’s White Goods scheme and signposted to support systems to help her rectify her issues. The practical energy advice given would see her saving £300 a year on their bills, with a further £465 of efficiency measures also identified.

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*name changed to protect identity