We are delighted to be able to grant St Mark’s Debt Advice Centre £5,000 to enable them to be able to further their support for the most vulnerable in our community.
The Centre offers help to individuals who need help with money problems, especially with debt advice, from their initial inquiry all the way to their debt resolution, which could take years. Being in debt in incredibly worrying and isolating, which then has a massive impact on mental health, often causing depression and anxiety. Consequently, 72% of St Mark’s clients being referred there by their GP or Health Service Practitioner.
From 2020 to 2024, St Mark’s Debt Advice Centre dealt with 317 cases and £2.2 million of debt. Due to extremely high demand, the centre wants to help more vulnerable people by employing someone to specifically help with debt relief orders, which our grant contributes towards. These can be life changing as, providing certain criteria is met, a large amount of debt can be written off. This also includes rent arrears, meaning eviction is spared. However, the process is timely and complicated and cannot be done without expert help, such as that offered at St Mark’s.
If you are struggling with debt, get in touch with St Mark’s Debt Advice for free expert advice. They work from Hawthorn House in Lache, however for comfort and confidentiality will meet at another place of choice. Hawthorn house is also a safe, warm, welcoming space should you need it.
