Bigger and complex household debts concern charity

Average debt owed by households in part of Devon have risen by more than £4,000 in two years, a charity said.

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) said research it had carried out showed the average household debt in North Devon was £14,330 in 2025, compared to £10,139 in 2023.

Reverend Ben Warrender, a debt centre manager for the charity in Barnstaple, said there had been a rise of people coming with “bigger and more complex debts”.

People who have used the charity to get back on track financially said the help provided had taken “a lot of mental strain” of dealing with the issue.

Tom Kehily, who fell into debt after losing his job and going through a relationship break-up in 2020, said help from the charity had proved really beneficial during the “lowest point” of his life.

The 36-year-old from Ilfracombe said: “My mental health was affected, I was struggling to find work and I started to fall quite quickly behind on utility bills.

“After I received my universal credit and paid my rent, I had £20 to last me the entire month.”

Mr Kehily said he survived by getting vouchers for food from charities such as the Salvation Army until he found out about CAP.

The charity helped him start a budget plan to repay the £7,000 he owed and when his circumstances changed, apply for a debt relief order (DRO) to become debt free.

Mr Warrender said the charity had noticed a rise in debts which affects households including rent, mortgage and utility arrears.

He added he has seen the amount of money people owe increase in 2025.

“People are coming to us with bigger and more complex debts,” Mr Warrender said.

“Sometimes people feel there is no way out of this, but there is hope.

“We have helped many hundreds of people get out of debt.”

Hannah Smith, 31, from Barnstaple, got into £5,000 of debt in 2023, primarily from utility company bills.

“I’ve had debt collectors tell me they are going to take my car and my belongings,” Ms Smith, who is on track to be debt free in 2027, said.

“From not having much before we moved into the property we are in now, it’s quite scary knowing someone can come and take it all away.”

She went to CAP for help in July 2025, who helped set her up with a repayment plan and stop the debt collectors coming to her door.

Ms Smith said: “They’ve done all the hard work for me and its taken away a lot of the mental strain.

“I’ve been able to focus on my own mental health and making sure my daughter is OK and we are doing really well now.”