Fifth of people in South East struggle with debt - report

A new report has found 22% of people in the South East live with finance anxiety

More than a fifth of adults in the South East experience daily struggles with their finances, a charity has found.

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) runs a debt advice centre in Guildford, Surrey, and has issued a new report which states 22% of adults live with finance anxiety.

Helen Kershaw, CAP's debt coach, said: "The immense pressure that unmanageable debt plays can be all-consuming and totally overwhelming, it is a real issue that we often come across when first meeting many of our clients."

The average peak debt of new CAP client households in 2024 was £12,578 - the fifth greatest amount of all regions in the UK.

Ms Kershaw said CAP's clients benefit from meeting face-to-face as they find it easier to truly open up about the struggles.

"We walk alongside the people we support, and our friendly, non-judgmental approach means we can address a person's wider needs beyond debt," she said.

"We know that many people who really need debt help often find it difficult to talk about their money worries and reach out for advice."

The charity is urging anyone experiencing financial difficulties to come forward this Talk Money Week, held from 3-7 November.

The initiative "is an opportunity for everyone in the UK to start the conversation about their finances", organisers say.