MP Mhairi pledges to help families make ends meet
Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP Mhairi Black met with a representative from StepChange to discuss the assistance they can offer people who find themselves in financial difficulty.
StepChange provides free debt advice and support to thousands of people across Scotland who have found themselves in financial difficulty, often due to an unexpected event such as redundancy or long- term sickness.
In their report Scotland in the Red released earlier this year, StepChange Debt Charity Scotland revealed that thousands of people are struggling with essential household bills such as council tax and energy bills.
This comes at a time when many people are struggling with reductions in their income and benefits, resulting in more and more people are falling behind with household bills.
Expressing her concern, Ms Black said: “I was concerned to read how many people are in difficulty with their household bills just trying to make ends meet.
“Basics costs are rising faster than incomes, and if people fall into difficulty it’s getting harder to get out.
“That’s why it is vital we have free advice organisations like StepChange providing such an important service.
“It is vital we support those that are financially struggling as the impact that debt can have is not just on your financial security, but it can also affect your mental health.
“There’s no shame in asking for professional advice and I urge people in financial difficulty with debt to contact StepChange.”