Paul Calvert spoke with Community Money Advice

Claire: Payday loans are a big one and credit cards; council tax debt is a huge one, especially as everybody's got to pay some council tax now. Also utility bills are a problem; we see a lot of problems with utility debts. However it is the traditional loans and credit cards that are the biggest problems still, from what I see.

Paul: Is this people being stupid in their spending, or is it everyday living expenses that they're getting into debt with?

Claire: In my centre in Scarborough in the last three years I've had 230 clients and of those I would only say three of them have got into the problems they're in because of their own reckless spending. Everybody else, it's been because there's been an illness, a disability, or redundancy and suddenly, from one life event your finances can fall apart. It's those sorts of things and everyday spending that people have got into debt with. Very rarely, the people that I see, has it been because of their own reckless spending and getting too many credit cards.

Paul: Wow, it's interesting that this could actually happen to anybody if there's one life event that happens. You could actually go into a spiral yourself.

Claire: Yeah, I mean generally they say we're all about two pay packets away from being in exactly the same situation. Fewer people are saving now and we're all potentially in that situation. That's why we encourage people to come to us, because there's no judgement. We're so aware that anybody can fall into the same situation and we just want to help people get out of it and not judge them for getting into the situation; there but for the grace of God go all of us, really.

Paul: So how are you financed?

Claire: Well, CMA as a wider organisation gets funding both from the centres that they're supporting and also from having to raise funds; a lot of it is fundraising and churches and other individual donations. It's just the usual, 'help we need the financial support', really.

Paul: What's your prayer for people today who are in debt and struggling and finding life really tough?

Claire: That they seek help. That they don't get covered with the shame and the guilt that goes with it, but that they actually step out and say, 'I need help' and find somebody; find a centre that will help them. There's lots of us around and people always come in and say, 'I don't know if you can help me'; we can always help. That's my prayer, really, is that people are lifted out of the shame so they can come and get the help they need and live free of debt.