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CAMPAIGNERS have joined forces to demand funding for Scottish debt advice services as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite.
Fresh from its victorious Feed the Weans campaign to scrap school meal debt in Glasgow, Unite for a Workers’ Economy has allied with fuel poverty activists at Power to the People and debt advisers to launch the Face to Face campaign.
Writing to First Minister Humza Yousaf, they have demanded a reversal of the cuts to debt advice that have coincided with the cost-of-living crisis and a 40 per cent increase in fuel poverty over the last three years.
The letter demands the Scottish government’s fuel insecurity fund be increased to £40 million, for council debt advice funding to be boosted by 20 per cent and for the £6m the Scottish government has received from the debt advice levy fund to be allocated immediately to front-line face-to-face support.
Power to the People’s Cllr Matt Kerr said: “People are now more in need of help than at any other time in this crisis, but local debt advice services are on their knees, with long waiting times to get a face-to-face interview, because of a lack of funding.
“Many advisers themselves don’t know how they will pay their own bills and keep the lights on.”
Unite For A Workers’ Economy’s Claire Peden said: “Debt advice keeps people in their homes, families together and the heating on.
“It stops people going to prison for debts like fines and council tax and has a massive benefit to mental health.
“But debt advice services are overworked and underfunded.
“It’s now critical that the Scottish government increases funding and provides a lifeline to the most vulnerable in our communities.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Advice services play a critical role, helping people to access the support and information they need.
“We are investing £11.7 million this year in advice services to provide free income maximisation, welfare and debt advice.“We are committed to a multichannel funding programme, which includes face-to-face advice provision.”
