Mounting debts leave people in the UK lonely, isolated and frightened to leave their homes

It paints a stark picture where debt is forcing people into hiding, with 85 per cent feeling isolated, and more than half admitting they were afraid to leave their homes.

This comes alongside CAP’s latest polling with Opinium, which reveals that over 11.2 million UK adults are suffering with loneliness (21 per cent), with 11.1 million (20 per cent) living alone and over 4.6 million (8 per cent) reporting not having a support network.

CAP’s Chief Mission Officer, Graeme McMeekin, said: "The crippling fear and loneliness our clients talk about are often driven by the pressure of mounting debt, and the shame of feeling unable to manage on low incomes in the face of increasing debts. Our clients are often terrified to even open the door until they know we’re from CAP.

"The unseen impact of this hidden crisis of loneliness and debt is that people feel unable to ask for help, with many isolating from family and friends. This traps them into a cycle of poverty and despair, often worsening their mental health."

No Time to Lose highlights that, in partnership with its network of local church partners, CAP provided specialist debt help to 8,716 people in 2024, with an average debt of a new client totalling £12,260.18.

Mum of three, Jolene, faced the isolation of a financial collapse when her working hours were slashed at the same time as she became liable for additional debts.

She said: "I’d worked hard to get where I was, and I’d put myself through qualifications so I’d be in a good financial position. My family and I weren’t able to go on holiday, but I could afford little luxuries like an occasional meal out. My kids had spent most of their lives in a flat, and then we finally moved into a house.

"But my ex-partner left, which meant not only was I now responsible for paying back all the bills, but I was stuck paying off his debts as well.

"Going from a life where you work, to literally putting your pennies together, it’s deeply scary. It’s the headspace of it.

"I didn’t sleep properly because my head was permanently calculating, worrying about where the next meal’s going to come from. It was a really depressing time."

Having isolated herself, Jolene finally reached out to Christians Against Poverty which had a debt centre based at her local church, initially hoping for help with food for her children.

However, it also proved to be the starting point of helping Jolene get control of her finances. It also opened up a new community of support, helping break the cycle of isolation.

Jolene says: "That community has literally saved me, it’s given me and my family hope for the future. What churches working with CAP do is provide a life-changing experience, but it’s not just the initial support and getting people out of debt: it’s that life-long support and guidance that they give you."

The importance of locally-based, face-to-face debt help for people facing loneliness and isolation will be a key focus for CAP during Loneliness Awareness Week.

During the week, the charity’s network of over 1,000 church partners across the UK will be encouraging local people who feel isolated by debt to reach out to one of CAP’s 250 local debt centres.

You can check online www.capuk.org to find out where their nearest CAP debt centre is or use online resources such as CAP’s Guide to Dealing with Loneliness.