A latest report from Christians Against Poverty (CAP), No Time to Lose, has sounded the alarm on a hidden crisis within the UK – one where financial debt and poverty are trapping thousands and thousands in a cycle of isolation, mental distress, and fear.
Timed to coincide with Loneliness Awareness Week starting on June, the report draws on fresh national polling and extensive client data to disclose the stark psychological and social consequences of private debt.
No Time to Lose is predicated on an evaluation of two,225 latest CAP client households in 2024, and 527 responses to CAP’s debt annual client survey. National figures were derived from a CAP-commissioned Opinium survey of two,000 UK adults.
According to the findings, 85% of clients report feeling isolated, and greater than half say they’re too afraid to go away their homes.
An additional 58% suffer from poor mental health and plenty of live in a relentless state of tension.
“The crippling fear and loneliness our clients discuss are sometimes driven by the pressure of mounting debt, and the shame of feeling unable to administer on low incomes within the face of accelerating debts,” stated Graeme McMeekin, Chief Mission Officer of CAP.
“Our clients are sometimes terrified to even open the door until they know we’re from CAP.”
He continued, “The unseen impact of this hidden crisis of loneliness and debt is that individuals feel unable to ask for help, with many isolating from family and friends.”
“This traps them right into a cycle of poverty and despair, often worsening their mental health.”
The national polling by Opinium reinforced the size of the issue: over 11.2 million UK adults report experiencing loneliness (21%) with 11.1 million residing by themselves (20%) and greater than 4.6 million saying they haven’t any support network in any respect (8%).
The report highlights a spread of distressing findings from CAP’s own client base: nearly half (49%) had considered or tried to take their very own life before reaching out for support, 62% fear a knock on the door, 78% are afraid of picking up the phone, and 82% feel anxious about checking the mail.
In addition, many reported severe deprivation: 59% had borrowed money to purchase food, and 63% couldn’t afford a basic bed or mattress attributable to overwhelming debt.
CAP’s reach in 2024 was significant – 8,716 people accessed free, face-to-face debt support through its network of 250 debt centres and 123 job clubs, all run in partnership with over 1,000 UK churches.
Yet the charity warns that many more remain hidden, suffering in silence.
The average debt for a latest CAP client in 2024 stood at £12,260.18, with those in London facing a fair steeper burden at £14,023.
The emotional and social cost of delay is staggering. According to survey responses, people often wait months and even years before reaching out for help: 63% cited embarrassment as the rationale for delaying, 56% mentioned shame, and only 6% sought support immediately after fighting debt.
One such story of delay is that of Jolene, a single mother of three, who fell into debt after her partner left and her work hours were reduced.
“Going from a life where you’re employed, to literally putting your pennies together, it’s deeply scary,” she said.
“It’s the headspace of it. I didn’t sleep properly because my head was permanently calculating, worrying about where the following meal’s going to return from. It was a extremely depressing time.”
After a pattern of social withdrawal, her turning point got here when she reached out for food help and was connected with a CAP debt centre at her local church.
“That community has literally saved me, it’s given me and my family hope for the longer term,” Ms Jolene expressed.
“What churches working with CAP do is provide a life-changing experience, nevertheless it’s not only the initial support and getting people out of debt: it’s that life-long support and guidance that they offer you.”
As the nation marks Loneliness Awareness Week, CAP is urging those that feel isolated by financial hardship to contact them for support.
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