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Media Centre

Sharing our latest press releases, media coverage, and insights.

 

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Working towards a society free from problem debt

As the UK’s leading debt charity, our 30 years of experience give us rich insight and expertise that we willingly share to analyse debt and the harm it causes, and work on solutions to address it.

Our press office can help journalists with information and comment, arrange briefings or interviews with our experts, and help facilitate case study requests with introductions to some of our clients who are willing to share their experience in the media.

Contact our Media Team (For journalists only):

  • 02073 914598 (Office hours)
  •  07985 404153 (Out of hours)

Latest Press Release

Call for greater collaboration between energy suppliers and debt advice providers as energy debt hits £4.4 billion

New research by the Personal Finance Research Centre at the University of Bristol, in partnership with Ofgem and StepChange Debt Charity, highlights the critical role that effective referrals from energy suppliers to free debt advice can play in supporting households with energy debt, and where the energy sector can do more to protect vulnerable customers. Read the press release

More press releases

Recent blogs

One year on — is our campaign for room to repay council tax working?

Emily Whitford, Senior Public Policy Advocate, writes: A year ago this week we published our policy report ‘Looking through the keyhole’, examining StepChange clients’ experiences of council tax arrears. It painted a troubling picture. One year on, what’s changed, and are we making progress? One thing remains crystal clear: people are still struggling to afford their council tax.

Go to the Medium blog

Recent media coverage

  • Our research alongside Ofgem and Bristol University, looking at energy referral pathways to debt advice and how clients feel about their energy provider, featured in Credit Connect
  • Peter Tutton spoke to BBC Breakfast about council tax debt collection and enforcement. Watch back from 6:48. Vikki Brownridge also spoke to BBC Radios Lincolnshire, Humberside and Sheffield. Listen back from 1:10:00
  • Our client, Michael, was featured in a BBC Investigations article around aggressive debt collection activity
  • We issued a range of consumer tips for households to get ahead of the energy price cap rise and manage the winter period. Our advice featured in iNews, the Independent and Mirror
  • Our Scottish public affairs officer, Malcolm McConnell, spoke live to BBC Radio Scotland about the energy price cap rise. Listen to the broadcast from 7:35
  • Vikki Brownridge was quoted in The Mirror, PlymouthLive and LancsLive as part of our joint story with Ovo on our partnership
  • Vikki's latest article in the Yorkshire Post focuses on our autumn campaigning activity which encourages consumers to plan ahead to manage the winter months
  • Our story on council tax affordability pressures as part of our ongoing campaign to reform council tax was featured in The Mirror. Our polling found that one in four people, which is equivalent to 12 million across the UK, are finding council tax bills difficult to manage
  • In a Guardian investigation looking into salary advance loans company Wagestream, StepChange was quoted speaking to the the risks of using such schemes
  • Vikki also wrote about our clients' experiences of bailiff action, our campaign over the last decade for regulation, and public mood towards regulation for Big Issue
  • Our client Alannah spoke to Big Issue about her experience using buy now pay later as a tool to manage her finances. We also provided them with stats which show those who have buy now pay later debt are twice as likely to use credit to pay for essentials
  • Our client Sarah spoke to BBC Radio 4's You and Yours as part of a feature on financial vulnerability. She also spoke extensively about her neurodivergence, and how this vulnerability impacts her ability to manage money and budget
  • Vikki Brownridge's response to buy now pay later regulation was cited on BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 5 Live and featured in local and regional news
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Research and reports

Our expert insights and industry leading specialists break down the biggest consumer credit issues today.

Read our debt research

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Key policy campaigns

We use our research and insights to raise awareness and campaign for sustainable change.

Look at our latest campaigns

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Our work in Parliaments

Working with ministers in Westminster and Hollyrood on policy briefings, events and constituency debt trends.

Read how we work with ministers

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Client Stories

Our clients help us campaign for change and encourage other people who are struggling with debt to get help. Ask how our media client volunteers can help you.

Hear from Alannah

"I live with a range of different long-term health conditions, which means that for a while I was reliant on ESA and PIP for my income. Things were tight and I was being underpaid due to an error, and therefore I had to appeal this to be able to get my full entitlement."

Read Alannah's story

Alannah, a pregnant women holds belly and looks into distance.
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These stories show that debt can happen to anyone, and the reasons for it are varied.

See more client stories here

Our wide range of debt information articles

We have more than 250 articles on the different types of debt, creditor action, budgeting, and ways to help you understand debt, including:

Debt happens. We deal with it.

We have helped millions of people since 1993.

Find out how.

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"StepChange = stress relief"

"StepChange helped me a lot...every month I used to stress because I knew I would have nothing left over to my name. Now I only give the amount I can really afford to my creditors. BIG THANKS TO STEPCHANGE."

Mohammed, Feefo Review