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StepChange Debt Charity, formerly the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS),[1] is the trading name of the Foundation for Credit Counselling, and is a debt counselling charity in the United Kingdom. The organisation offers free debt advice and money management and can be contacted through its freephone telephone helpline[2] or online through its online debt advice tool.[3] In 2022, over 500,000 people contacted the charity for help.[4] The charity also campaigns to change policies and practices that trap people in problem debt.
 | |
| Founded | 1993 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Vic Ware, Malcolm Hurlston |
Area served | United Kingdom |
| Services | Debt advice and support |
Employees | 1,150 |
| Website | stepchange |
Formerly called | Consumer Credit Counselling Service |
Its current Chair is John Griffith-Jones,[5]. The Chief Executive of the charity is Vikki Brownridge, who took over from Phil Andrew in May 2023.[6]
Services edit
StepChange provides free debt advice to clients both over the telephone and through their online service. Clients have their financial situation evaluated, and receive a recommendation for one of a range of debt solutions, including Debt Management Plans and insolvency solutions, such as Individual Voluntary Arrangements or Bankruptcies. StepChange provides support for clients throughout the span of their debt solution, including regular revaluations.
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Since early 2021 the charity has also provided eligible clients opportunity to enter “Breathing Space”, allowing them to receive 60 days' respite from interest, fees, and court action to reduce stress and give them time to sort out a debt solution.
StepChange Scotland, which operates under the differing Scottish system, provides specific services to Scottish clients. StepChange Scotland is an approved organisation for setting up debt payment plans through the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS).
History edit
The charity was founded in 1993 when Vic Ware OBE and Malcolm Hurlston introduced the Consumer Credit Counselling Service to the UK via a pilot scheme based in Leeds.[7][8]
The introduction of debt counselling over the telephone proved to be a success and the charity expanded throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The charity has continued to grow in recent years. In 2007 it established a non-profit individual voluntary arrangement service[9] and in 2010 launched a free equity release advice service.[citation needed]
On 5 November 2012 the charity rebranded as StepChange Debt Charity.[1][10]
In 2017 the charity was contacted by almost 620,000 people seeking debt help and delivered over 357,000 detailed debt advice sessions.[11] By 2019 the number getting in contact had risen to 635,000, but in 2020 the charity saw a reduced number of only 500,000 people getting in touch, which it attributes to the support measures put in place by the British government and credit industry in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.[12]
The charity's head office is in Leeds, England. There are also centres in the English municipalities of Newcastle, Birmingham, Chester, Scotland's largest city of Glasgow, and the Welsh capital of Cardiff. The charity also has an office in London.
Policy work edit
As well as providing advice, the organisation also campaigns for change to reduce the incidence of problem debt, and successfully worked with other charities to influence the Government to introduce a statutory a "Breathing Space" debt respite scheme.[13] Other campaigning work on overdrafts, credit cards, and high cost credit[14] has resulted in policy changes from the Financial Conduct Authority, and the charity continues to press for the reform of bailiff legislation as part of the Taking Control coalition of charities.
Funding edit
StepChange Debt Charity is funded mostly by voluntary donations from creditors as well as allocated Government funding through the Money and Pensions Service,[15] and works with over 900 partner organisations. The charity also accepts donations from the general public.[16] In 2020, the charity received income of £60.6m and had operating costs of £63.4m, including a £3.9m increase in staff costs, reflecting increased colleague number during the year. These costs also reflect the improvements made after a decade, to colleague remuneration and benefits under the charity’s Total Reward strategy.
References edit
- ^ a b "Debt charity CCCS to rebrand as StepChange". Civil Society.
- ^ "Debt charity reports 'sharp rise' in helpline calls". The Times. 30 April 2010. Archived from the original on 25 May 2010.
- ^ "Get Debt Help. Our Free Debt Advice". StepChange.
- ^ "2022 Personal Debt Trends and Statistics. StepChange" (PDF).
- ^ "Trustees of Foundation for Credit Counselling". StepChange.
- ^ "StepChange appoints Vikki Brownridge as new Chief Executive". StepChange.
- ^ "House of Commons – Treasury – Written Evidence". Archived from the original on 19 August 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ "FOUNDATION FOR CREDIT COUNSELLING: WRITTEN EVIDENCE INITIAL SUBMISSION: JUNE 2004". Competition Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2012.
- ^ "About us". StepChange.
- ^ "From 5 November 2012, the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) has rebranded as StepChange Debt Charity". turn2us.org.uk. Archived from the original on 17 August 2014.
- ^ "UK Personal Debt Statistics & Trends 2017". StepChange.
- ^ "Statistics Yearbook - Personal debt in the UK, January - December 2020" (PDF). StepChange.
- ^ "Breathing space scheme: call for evidence response" (PDF). HM Treasury. June 2018.
- ^ "FCA publishes outcome of high-cost credit review". Financial Conduct Authority. 30 May 2018.
- ^ "How Our Free Debt Advice is Funded". StepChange.
- ^ "Who we work with - our partners". StepChange.