The Scottish Government has teamed up with StepChange Debt Charity Scotland, to launch a new handbook designed to help improve access to free advice services for struggling Scots.
The Scotland Debt Guide is being introduced at a time of widespread financial distress in Scotland after polling showed that thousands of people are struggling with debt and are behind on essential bills like Council Tax and rent, with more than a fifth using credit to make ends meet and cover essential costs.
- With support measures such as furlough coming to an end, £20 a week due to be cut from Universal Credit at the end of this month, and energy bills set to rise for 15 million households across the UK from October 1, the debt advice sector is expecting demand for its services to rise in the coming months.
The Scotland Debt Guide includes information on the solutions available to those seeking advice, including the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS), debt management plans, bankruptcy, the Minimal Asset Process (MAP) and Trust Deeds, among others.
It also includes a complete guide to putting together a budget, and an explanation of what to expect when contacting a debt advisor, to help prepare anyone considering taking advice
It also provides information for getting in touch with a number of Scottish organisations that provide debt advice.
These include:
- StepChange Debt Charity Scotland
- Citizens Advice Scotland
- Christians Against Poverty
- Macmillan
- Shelter
Sharon Bell, Head of StepChange Scotland, said: “At a time of financial uncertainty for many, it’s vital that as many people as possible are aware of the free, impartial services available to help them with their financial issues.
“As more Scots find themselves in need of support from a free debt advice charity, the Scotland Debt Guide will provide them with a clear starting point on the road to recovery.
“Taking the first step to pick up the phone or go online to get help can often be the hardest but suffering in silence can often make things worse. As always, our advice to anyone in financial difficulty would be, get help and get it early.”
The printed copy of the Guide is available to be distributed free of charge to any interested organisations or groups, who can get in contact via the StepChange website.
The digital edition of the Guide, which is also available in Urdu, Polish and Punjabi, can be downloaded from the StepChange website here.
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