Debt Awareness Week 2021 in the UK takes place between 22-28 March this year.
Spearheaded by Stepchange debt charity and championed by other prominent debt charities including the National Debtline, and supported by leading Scottish debt advice companies such as Trust Deed Scotland, the annual Debt Awareness Week event serves as an opportunity for a coordinated push by all debt advisory services to work together and help people struggling with unaffordable debt.
StepChange is a registered UK Charity with a head office in Leeds, Yorkshire and is funded mostly by voluntary donations from creditors, and works with over 900 partner organisations.
The theme of Debt Awareness Week 2021 is all about destigmatising debt. It’s about empowering people to feel confident about asking for the help they need and easing any worries they may have about being judged or feeling ashamed or embarrassed.
For many households across Scotland, unaffordable debt is an everyday unavoidable fact of life but asking for help can feel daunting, something which Trust Deed Scotland understands well.
Every week, Trust Deed Scotland receives new reviews from customers who in their own words tell us that they find our experienced debt advice team to be friendly and non-judgemental and that once they’ve spoken to our advisors, that their fears of being judged, ashamed or embarrassed are lifted.
A number of people say that once they do ask for help, they can then begin to sleep again at night, or that their mental health improves significantly. Recently 55% of young Scots said that they were losing sleep over debt and there are already many established links between debt and mental health.
Many of the people that we speak to on a day-to-day basis say that they contacted us after a referral from a friend, family member or work colleague. This greatly pleases us because not only does it show that our customers are happy with the outcome of their advice they received and the formal debt solution put in place for them, but it shows that people are more willing to open up about their personal finances to those around them. Challenging the stigma around debt.
And, as the country continues to recover from the Coronavirus pandemic, many more people are now having to deal with their debt as a consequence.
The theme of Debt Awareness Week 2021 continues with the hashtag #TheFirstStep and we’ve included some recent reviews received by our customers who themselves have recently taken their own first steps in their own journey.
Trust Deed Scotland recently helped set up a Protected Trust Deed for our customer Shelley, who left a review saying:
“Excellent service from the start. It took me a long time to make that call about my debt.
I was embarrassed and feared been judged but it was completely the opposite I was treated with respect Sharon was absolutely lovely, welcoming, and most of all understanding she helped me enormously and can not speak highly enough of her service.
I would 100% recommend Trust Deed Scotland if your struggling with debt please make that call.”
Gordon, another customer who has entered into a Protected Trust Deed said of his Trust Deed Scotland experience:
“Vicky was immensely helpful and easy to talk to about the very delicate situation of my debt.
All anxiety was lifted with such fast and helpful guidance. Will definitely refer anybody I know struggling with debt to this program.
Thank you very much. It’s greatly appreciated.”
Earlier in the month, Trust Deed Scotland set up a Debt Payment Programme (DPP) under the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) for our customer Erin who said:
“After stressing for too long over my debts and feeling really embarrassed to ask for help, Pamela from Trust deed Scotland was extremely helpful and I didn’t feel judged at all, I felt so comfortable talking with her on the phone and she made me feel so at ease with the procedure.
I can now say I’m so glad I went to Trust Deed Scotland as a weight has been lifted off my shoulders!”
Robert, a self-employed customer who Trust Deed Scotland helped with a Protected Trust Deed said:
“This difficult decision to address my debt problems was made significantly easier by the friendly and non-judgmental advice and help from all the staff especially my main advisor Joe at Trust Deed Scotland.
Within the space of a month, I had been helped through what had always appeared as a terrifying financial minefield into which I hadn’t dared step, only for it to be revealed as a solvable problem.
I can only urge anyone in my previous position to grasp the nettle and let Trust Deed Scotland help you.”
Angela, a customer who Trust Deed Scotland helped with a Trust Deed proposal said:
“I cannot thank Soreena enough for her patience and most importantly her complete understanding of my personal circumstances.
The weight and total burden seemed to be lifted almost immediately after our initial conversation which was worth its weight in gold. With ease and comfort, the process was explained fully and my understanding checked at each step of the way. My needs and my individual concerns were paramount and taken into consideration with all decisions.
Nothing at all, no question, no text nor no email was ever a problem for Soreena and I was treated with dignity and respect throughout. I now look forward to a sunnier future and leaving my troubles behind me.”
Angela applied for a Trust Deed alongside her husband who made an application for a DPP as part of the Debt Arrangement Scheme showing that there really is no one-size-fits-all solution for our customers, with each customer’s individual circumstances, needs and affordability being the utmost priority at all times.
With over 10,000 Trust Deed Scotland reviews you can read more reviews like these, written in our customers’ own words.
Take the first step on your journey to a brighter future today
If you are struggling with unaffordable debt and you want to find out your options, you can contact Trust Deed Scotland today on 0141 221 0999.
We offer tailored debt advice. We do not judge and we’ll treat any information that you share with us confidentially so, you don’t even need to commit to taking the first step today.