Debt Awareness Week 2026 is Here!

It’s Debt Awareness Week from Monday 16 to Friday 20 March 2026. We wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some of the important work happening in this space and consider how we can all play a part in addressing the challenges associated with problem debt:

StepChange: “Filed away” Report

  • Debt Awareness Week is an annual campaign coordinated by http://StepChange Debt Charity, aimed at tackling the stigma surrounding problem debt. This week, StepChange has published a new report titled “Filed away”, which highlights the scale and ongoing harm caused by coerced debt. The report shines a light on the charity’s vital work in exposing the long-term impacts on victim‑survivors’ financial wellbeing, personal safety, and ability to rebuild their lives. Full details can be found here:https://www.stepchange.org/media-centre/press-releases/coerced-debt-report.aspx.

Government Debt Management Function – Functional Centre

  • To mark Debt Awareness Week, the Government Debt Management Function’s Functional Centre will be releasing a series of blogs and hosting interactive events throughout the week. These activities aim to increase understanding of the impact of indebtedness and to showcase the positive work happening across government and partner organisations to prevent and resolve debt.
  • The schedule of events and publications is available below. Spaces for events can be reserved via Eventbrite, and the published blogs and materials will be released throughout the week:
  • 16 March – Rethinking How Ability to Pay is Determined (Blog post, Debt Centre of Excellence)
  • 17 March – Understanding Economic Abuse Webinar hosted by Surviving Economic Abuse charity (Webinar 12-1pm)
  • 18 March – Making Government Debt Management More Practical: New Write Off and Remission Guidance (Blog post)
  • 19 March – FromStigma to Support: Voices from the Frontline (with StepChange Debt Charity) (Webinar 11am – 12pm)
  • 20 March – Prevent, Resolve, Improve: Government Debt Strategy 2026-2030 (Strategy publication)
  • 20 March – The Road Ahead: Jane Tully, GDMF DD (Blog post, Debt Centre of Excellence)

DeafPLUS

  • The Executive Summary on financial inclusion for Deaf BSL users, produced by the charity, DeafPLUS (http://DeafPLUS) found that although around 80% of bank branches report that they are accessible, based on data including figures referenced by the Lending Standards Board, in fact, the frontline experience of DeafPLUS suggests otherwise. Reported accessibility is not consistently translating into effective communication, customer understanding, or safe financial outcomes for Deaf BSL users.
  • In the first three months of operating moneyPLUS, DeafPLUS supported 85 Deaf BSL clients in London alone. For a new, specialist service, this is a strikingly high number and points to a substantial unmet need within the community. Most concerning is that 90% of the debt‑related issues encountered were directly linked to miscommunication or inaccessible information. These communication failures are not isolated incidents; they represent a clear and persistent driver of financial harm. DeafPLUS would welcome further discussion on how we can work collaboratively to address these systemic barriers and improve financial inclusion for Deaf BSL users.

These examples illustrate just a portion of the significant work being carried out in this area.