Debt on Teeside: Pathways to Financial Inclusion

Debt on Teesside was a two-year action research project, funded by the Northern Rock Foundation during 2011-13. The project was a partnership between Durham University’s Centre for Social Justice and Community Action, Church Action on Poverty (CAP) and Thrive (a Teesside-based community organisation).

The project worked with 24 low income households experiencing unmanageable debt in the Teesside area of North East England.  The aims of the project were to:

• explore the dynamics of household debt (through household-level research interviews and workshops)
• examine the potential for supporting positive change away from high cost credit towards more financially sustainable alternatives (through a community-based financial mentoring scheme)
• initiate community action and campaigns on issues related to financial exclusion (through a community organising approach).