Debt Awareness Week runs from 20-26 March, and for 2023 the focus is on how debt can happen to anyone. At Cross Counties Training we know the cost-of-living crisis is having a huge impact on everyone across the UK. Facing money worries can feel lonely and it’s often hard to know where to turn – but we want to let you know that free and impartial support is available if you’re worried about money or debt.
The cost of living crisis has felt almost unavoidable over the past year, with rising energy costs, food prices, interest rates, and gas prices, while many of us have been living wage to wage and frequently seeing our income effectively stagnate while our outgoings go up and up.
On people and their finances, it has had a significant impact. For the last 40 years, prices haven’t risen so quickly, but now they are as millions of homes experience greater energy costs. According to official statistics, the cost of living has increased by more than 10% since last year. Britain is seeing the highest inflation rates since the early 1980s, and households are seeing the worst income decline in recorded history. Both the cost of fuel and the cost of energy are skyrocketing. At 8.3%, food inflation is at a 13-year high.
In general, greater inflation and slow wage growth are to blame for the cost-of-living crisis. Realistically, many homes are left worse off. Short-term causes like the conflict in Ukraine have made the crisis worse, but long-term tendencies like poor productivity growth and rising corporate market power are also putting pressure on living standards.
As a result of household expenditure reductions during the Covid epidemic, inflation declined. When restrictions were lifted in 2021, households were then free to spend pandemic-related savings, which sharply increased demand as a result.
Some statistics:
- On average, a UK household spends £3.96 a day on water, electricity, and gas.
- 289 people a day were declared insolvent or bankrupt in England or Wales in November to January 2023. This was the equivalent to 1 person every 4 minutes and 59 seconds.
- Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales dealt with 2,101 debt issues every day in the year to January 2023.
- 6 properties were repossessed every day in July to September 2022 in the UK, or 1 every 3 hours and 9 minutes.
- The number of people unemployed in the UK fell by 282 per day in the 12 months to December 2022.
- The average total debt per household, including mortgages was £65,946.
Please don’t suffer in silence, there are lots of people that can help you and give you advice on how to move forward. The list below are some of the charities that can help;
- Stepchange
- Citizen’s Advice
- National Debtline
- Debt Support Trust
- Christians Against Poverty
- Debt Advice Foundation
If you would like to talk to us about Mental Health training, we have 2 courses available;
- First Aid Awareness for Mental Health– This Level 2 certified course helps introduce the risks and warning signs of Mental Health and teaches the importance of early intervention. (6 hours)
- Supervisor First Aid for Mental Health– This Level 3 certified course covers a wider range of Mental Health conditions. The course is suitable for all persons who hold a supervisory/managerial level position and are responsible for implementing Mental Health in the workplace. (12 hours)
Please call us on 01276 586943 or email us at admin@crosscountiestraining.co.uk.
