Poverty campaigner Alasdair Christie, of Inverness Badenoch and Strathspey Citizens Advice Bureau, describes how a rising tide of debt is now the scourge of families and communities across the Highlands – but with some dedicated help at hand
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Highland families are facing “heartbreaking” levels of distress over debt as the cost of living crisis savages household budgets.
That was the stark assessment of Alasdair Christie, a poverty campaigner leading the local fight to help increasing numbers of people struggling to keep a roof over their heads and pay for energy and food.
In Inverness alone, the charitable organisation Citizens Advice Scotland is now regularly assisting around 50 individuals in serious financial difficulty every single day.
People from all kinds of backgrounds are being affected, including working families and an increasing number of older people and those reaching the end of their working lives.
Mr Christie, the general manager of Inverness Badenoch and Strathspey Citizens Advice Bureau, believes a variety of disadvantageous factors affect our northerly towns and villages more harshly than elsewhere in the UK.
And he stressed the situation was now so grave that a drop of just £20 in disposable income could be the tipping point that plunges people into serious difficulty and the risk of losing their homes.
Through his role, Mr Christie has also gained insight into how the pressures and anxieties of debt are damaging people’s mental and physical health.
The Liberal Democrat councillor’s remarks follow a Citizen’s Advice Scotland warning this week on soaring levels of Council Tax arrears.
“Here in the Highlands, we’re seeing people coming in with all sorts of debt, not just council tax,” Mr Christie said.
“Mortgage, rent and council tax are probably three of the most serious debts people can have because they can lead to either eviction or repossession of their homes.
“We’re also seeing increasing numbers with personal loan and credit card debt as well.
“We’re anticipating, towards the end of the month, we will see a huge uplift in people with unsecured debt needing advice.
“Of course, debt, as well as risking the roof over people’s heads, also has a severe impact on mental health and wellbeing.
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“It leads to people not being able to sleep, think or stop worrying about debt.
“We’re seeing more and more people coming to us in heartbreaking situations.
“One report by Citizen’s Advice showed an awful lot of people could not cope with a reduction of even £20 a week in their disposable income.
“On the face of it, £20 a week is not a lot of money, but it can be the tipping point for a lot of people.”
Given its distinct rural nature, the Highlands can be characterised by a relative dearth of job and – crucially, given soaring household costs – second job opportunities.
It is also distinguished as being the region with the highest fuel and energy costs.
Citizens Advice Scotland says one in two clients in Scotland now face a choice between paying council tax debts or meeting food and heating costs.
“This is a scenario that our staff hear of time and again,” Mr Christie said.
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“In the Highlands, people pay more for their energy and have fewer energy choices than anywhere else in the UK.
“For instance, mains gas is not an option for an awful lot of people in the Highlands.
“In larger towns and cities, people often have the opportunity to take on a second job, while in some of our towns and villages it is very difficult to find any kind of job.”
While Citizens Advice can never offer a magic wand solution, Mr Christie is keen to highlight the profound sense of relief and peace of mind people often gain after receiving assistance.
“Our message is quite simple - come and talk to us,” he said.
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“We can plan together how we can support people through what is often a very traumatic and distressing time.
“Often, just by sitting down and going through it, then working up a plan, people gain a sense that they’re back in control.
“With debt, one of the biggest worries is that it is out of control.
“By taking back control, it can improve a person’s health. We can negotiate with creditors on behalf of our clients whether it be the council, a landlord or a mortgage company, and even credit card providers.
“We’ll give that support that is necessary.”
