Media Centre

Recent blogs

Problem debt in Scotland: A manifesto for the 2026 Holyrood elections

Malcolm McConnell, Public Affairs Officer StepChange Scotland, writes: When Scotland last voted in a Holyrood election, the country was still in the grip of the pandemic. Mass testing and vaccinations were in full swing, and masks and social distancing were a common sight at polling stations. Few would have imagined then that the years to follow would be just as turbulent. But since 2021, households have been hit by a sustained cost of living crisis, soaring inflation and record energy prices, all unfolding against a backdrop of global instability and conflict.

Go to the Medium blog

Recent media coverage

• Vikki Brownridge wrote her first opinion piece of the year in the Big Issue, focusing on managing finances and new year debt
• We featured in a Panorama episode on consumer credit. Our stats on credit cards were used to illustrate the scale of usage
• We worked closed with the Yorkshire Post on a feature length special report (£) on bailiff regulation and enforcement action
• Genevieve Richardson, Senior Public Policy Advocate, spoke with Iona Bain on a BBC Morning Live programme about coerced debt and economic abuse. Genevieve provided an expert voice, explaining what coerced debt is and what to do if viewers feel they are a victim of it. Watch here from 13:30
• Our research found that 21 million people expect their financial situation to worsen over the next twelve months. Our client, Dave, spoke to BBC News about how he manages his debt and urged readers in his position to reach out for help
• Our Scotland public affairs officer, Malcolm McConnell, spoke live to BBC Radio Scotland about new year financial pressures. Listen back from 12:50
• Vikki Brownridge was quoted in the Mirror and other outlets on the financial pressure that the January period can place on people
• Our neurodiversity and finances research, conducted jointly with Equifax, featured in the Times and the Sunday Times (print)
• Our client, Mike, featured in an Observer piece about bailiffs and council tax reform
• As part of the Government's decision to introduce financial literacy to primary schools, Vikki spoke to the Sunday Times (paywall) about introducing young people to the concepts and terms around credit
• Our response to Ofgem's update on their debt relief scheme, revealing £500m would be available to almost 200,000 people struggling with energy debt, was featured in the Telegraph, The Sun, and more
• Vikki's latest article in the Yorkshire Post focused on how StepChange Connected brought together creditors, funders, partners, banks and others to address challenges around financial difficulty (also in print)
• 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
• Vikki was quoted in The Mirror, PlymouthLive and LancsLive as part of our joint story with Ovo on our partnership