Read our 2023 client report, exploring the severe poverty problem the UK is currently facing.
Client report: Taking on UK poverty
Without CAP’s help I’d have still been locked in the house, sleeping on my couch and not doing much with myself – it was pure depression all the time. Now I know who to call if I’m struggling, I’m working and I’m getting married. I couldn’t raise a higher flag for CAP.
— James, who went from barely surviving to confident and thriving through CAP
Key statistics
54%
of CAP clients have sacrificed meals at least monthly
50%
of CAP clients considered or attempted suicide as a way out of debt
56%
had to borrow money to pay for food, clothing or other living costs
61%
of CAP clients couldn’t afford basic toiletries like soap, toothpaste and sanitary items
2/3
of CAP clients had fallen behind with one or more household bills
50%
of budgets created for clients were unsustainable due to low income
2023 client report: in summary
In 2022, the cost of living continued to rise, while household incomes fell behind. Rates of priority debt went up, and more people struggled to pay household bills. We saw higher demand for emergency food shops, fuel vouchers and help with essentials.
A big concern found in our latest client report is that over half of CAP clients’ budgets were unsustainable due to low income. More people are being driven to extreme poverty and destitution, and one in two CAP clients have considered or attempted suicide before seeking help.
As a society, we have a severe problem on our hands and we cannot allow it to continue. At CAP, we’re pushing our 27 years of expertise to the limits and doing everything we can. Last year, we helped 9,168 people with their debts, delivered emergency support to 1,831 homes, and played a part in encouraging over 4,000 local churches to open Warm Welcome Spaces during the winter.
Now is the time to come together and fight back. Because poverty isn’t going anywhere unless we do something about it. Read our latest client report and find out how, together, we can take on UK poverty.
The people I see are having to make unacceptable choices in any decent society. They are having to sacrifice meals to pay bills. Too many of our clients can’t see a way out of this. People just feel like giving up.
— Nicky McLaughlin, Wishaw Debt Centre Manager
Download the 2023 client report
Read about how we can take action against UK poverty together, by downloading our 2023 client report.
