Report summary
The rising cost of living, alongside issues like low incomes and mental health, is fuelling a deepening poverty crisis across the UK. This report explores the complex challenges individuals face and offers a vital and detailed understanding of poverty today.
The report is split into three parts:
Part I – Desperate times: the landscape of debt today
We paint a picture of the UK’s 2024 debt crisis, including its causes, borrowing trends and the impact of income distribution and static incomes.
Part II – No time to lose: we urgently need to face the impact of UK poverty
We highlight the multifaceted impacts of UK poverty, from individual and family struggles with debt (particularly for single parents) to its restrictive and dangerous consequences, illustrating the UK’s debt landscape.
Part III – Time to act: bringing the hope of a debt free future
We focus on the urgent need for action against UK poverty, introducing CAP’s services as a means to offer hope and a debt free future.
Jolene’s story is interwoven throughout the report, illustrating the real lives and individuals behind the statistics and showing how CAP and local churches are offering new beginnings and hope.
This year’s data provides the most detailed picture of life in debt and poverty that we’ve been able to build so far…We find ourselves living in a time when these levels of destitution not only exist but are commonplace among new CAP clients and many others.
Kiri Adams, Head of Policy and Public Affairs
The statistics
Our latest client report is packed with statistics, but three key findings particularly highlight the challenges the people we help face:
The statistics in this report paint a troubling picture of the impact of poverty on real lives, and it is clear that poverty is not relinquishing its hold.
Stewart McCulloch, Chief Executive Officer
What is the client report?
The client report includes analysis of data from CAP’s annual report and accounts. This report’s findings are based on two key datasets: CAP’s 2024 annual figures from 2,225 UK clients, and responses from 527 clients who participated in CAP’s 2024 debt help survey. Together, they illustrate the realities faced by the people we help.
