How people power works
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Dear friend,
My name is Richard, and I am a community organiser at Debt Justice.
I’m emailing you today with some fantastic news to start the year. Our UK household debt campaign just scored a major victory, and it’s all down to our local group in Manchester.
Many in the group have been impacted by the cost of living crisis, and unable to keep up with council tax bills. They aren’t alone, across the UK nearly 3 million people have been taken to court for falling behind [1]. The Trussell Trust reports that council tax debt pushes many people into destitution [2].
This debt builds up so quickly because one missed payment can mean councils will send a bill for the entire years’ worth of council tax – debt can increase tenfold in a matter of weeks. And that can mean facing the stress of a visit from the bailiffs.
For over a year the group in Manchester has been campaigning together with community union Acorn for more support for people with unpayable council tax debt and for an end to bailiff visits, we’ve just heard that they won some major changes!
Find out how we won this campaign ([link removed])
Following pressure from Debt Justice campaigners in Manchester, the council have brought in measures that will mean almost 50,000 homes that are in receipt of council tax support will no longer be visited by bailiffs. This is on top of the changes last year that include extra support for people who are having trouble paying council tax.
With the effects of the cost of living crisis being felt by people across the city, this is good news.
Local authorities have a duty to their residents to collect council tax to support high quality local services, but there isn’t any observable link between using bailiffs and higher council tax collection rates.
Find out more and what needs to happen next ([link removed])
This win happened because people came together to campaign for change.
But we need much bigger changes to deal with the household debt crisis that almost 13 million people are facing across the UK.
This year there is likely to be a general election, but I know that regardless of who is in charge – the only way to get our voices heard is by building community and solidarity. Policies aren’t up to scratch because the voices of those in debt rarely get listened to.
As a community organiser, I speak with people who have experienced debt and connect them with people who have had similar experiences so we can begin to campaign for change. When you find someone else in the same boat, then three, then four, the impossible seems a lot more possible.
When we come together, we can be powerful, and when we are powerful, things can change for the better. And thanks to our campaign, nearly 50,000 households in Manchester will see a change.
This is why I do the job that I do. If you would like to read more about this and what needs to happen next across the UK, you can read my blog here ([link removed]) .
If you’d like to be part of winning future changes, then you can also support our community organising with a donation today.
Donate to create future wins ([link removed])
Until next time.
In solidarity,
Richard
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[1] In the last two years, more than three million people have been taken to court for council tax debt. ([link removed])
[2] The Trussell Trust recently reported that council tax debt pushes many people into destitution, leading them to food banks. ([link removed])
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