Inverness debt counselling centre for Christians Against Poverty (CAP) reaches out to provide free advice for people struggling to meet soaring costs of fuel and food bills
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
As the manager of a debt counselling centre in Inverness, Duncan Dundas sees the devastating and very real impact as people struggle to meet the soaring costs of fuel and food bills.
And he fears more people will find themselves having to make the choice between eating and heating.
Mr Dundas manages the Inverness debt centre for Christians Against Poverty (CAP) which works with a UK-wide network of churches.
It is based at the Culduthel Christian Centre and offers a free one-to-one service to people – of all faiths or none – seeking a way out of debt.
During the last three years, it has helped 37 people in the Inverness area to become debt free.
Amid concerns many low-income families will see their debts rocket as they struggle to afford the basics, Mr Dundas is encouraging people to seek help now and not to wait until things get worse.
It comes as the Inverness Courier is also highlighting the deepening crisis with its End The Chill campaign.
Official figures show 33 per cent of all households in the Highlands are in fuel poverty making it one of Scotland’s worst-affected regions.
'Some people are in a really horrific situation'
“It is really sad to see people who are really struggling in this day and age,” Mr Dundas said.
“We are trying to reach out and help as many people as we can.
“Some people are in a really horrific situation.”
He reflected that inflation rose to 5.4 per cent in December – its highest rate for 30 years – while soaring fuel bills will rise further following the review of the energy price cap.
Mr Dundas said people on pre-payment energy meters were often impacted more than others.
“Just recently I was talking to a client who told me they had hardly had the heating on at all this winter,” he said.
“They could not afford to have it on.
“It really was a choice between food and heating.”
In another case, arrangements were made for emergency fuel vouchers for a client who had not heated their home for a couple of weeks.
“Some people are having to pay £50 a week for electricity to feed the meter – that includes arrears as well as fuel costs,” Mr Dundas said. “People are basically just surviving.”
People find themselves in debt for various reasons including the loss of a job, or low-paid employment.
Those seeking help are of all ages and backgrounds.
“One person had a few part-time jobs until fairly recently but all of a sudden lost them and found they were on Universal Credit,” Mr Dundas said.
“It has been a real struggle for that person to have to live on Universal Credit.”
Mental health issues could also have implications. “People with serious mental health issues might find themselves not able to go out of the house and they are in their home all the time and therefore heating costs are higher than if someone has a job, or is going into the office,” he said.
Working families affected
Fellow debt coach Colin McLean said fuel poverty did not just affect unemployed people.
“Fuel poverty has been a problem and I have found that it has increasingly been affecting more people across the spectrum of earnings,” he said.
“Working families are affected as earnings aren’t enough to cover heating and electric bills.
“Recently, a client was shivering as I was having a telephone appointment with him. Fortunately we were able to send emergency aid and he was still two weeks away from his next benefit payment.
“The crisis is real and people are suffering.”
Never too early or too late to seek help
Specially-trained advisers with CAP Scotland help hundreds of people to become debt-free each year.
Working face to face, they help people look at all the suitable and recommended options based on their individual circumstances.
CAP Scotland’s national director Emma Jackson said it was never too early or too late to get debt help.
“Over the past year we’ve seen the devastating impact of the cost of living increase hitting low income families hard,” she said.
“Before getting debt help, many of our clients were having to prioritise which bills to pay.
“No one should have to make the impossible choice between whether to heat their home or feed their children, but sadly too many people in Scotland are having to do this. Too often shame and stigma keep people trapped in problem debt – 50 per cent of CAP clients wait for over a year to get debt help.
“We are urging everyone who is struggling with problem debt not to wait until things hit crisis point.
“Our debt coaches can meet you in the comfort of your home and stay with you every step of the way until you are debt free.”
Help is provided free.
Anyone wanting more information should call 0800 328 0006.
More information can also be found at CAP debt help in Scotland.
Record rises in energy bills an absolute horror story
