Last week our CEO Sarah Hayle joined BBC Radio Northampton’s Annabel Amos to talk about the ethos behind our Sort It Sooner campaign — and why getting help early can make all the difference for people struggling with debt and financial difficulty.
The appearance gave Sarah the opportunity to share the campaign’s core message with a wider audience: don’t wait until crisis hits. Whether someone is worried about debt, falling behind on bills, or simply finding times tough, we urge people to pick up the phone before problems spiral.
“We see this pattern across all our services,” said Sarah. “People wait until they’re at breaking point before reaching out for help. By then, debt levels have escalated, their health and wellbeing have been impacted, and what could have been resolved quickly has become a complex, time-consuming crisis.”
While the conversation on BBC Northamptonshire focused on debt, Sarah was keen to emphasise that the Sort It Sooner message sits across everything Community Law Service does. We provide free, confidential and independent advice across five key areas: debt, housing, benefits, energy and fuel poverty, and immigration. Anyone struggling in any of these areas is encouraged to get in touch as soon as possible – not when enforcement agents are at the door or eviction is imminent.
The scale of the need is significant. Last year, Community Law Service handled 1,192 debt cases alone, with total debts amounting to over £29 million. In our housing work, 90% of people we supported in court had never sought advice before arriving at their court hearing…a striking illustration of how long people wait before asking for help.
“Many of our clients have never been in financial difficulty before,” added Sarah. “Some are embarrassed or ashamed to reach out. But we are here to help, and all our services are free. Please don’t leave it too late.”
If you missed the broadcast, the message is simple: the sooner you reach out, the sooner Community Law Service can help, and the better the outcome is likely to be.