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Hi. I'm Kimberley, and I work at StepChange Debt Charity. In this video, I'm here to explain about who we are, how we operate, and how we're funded. At StepChange we're known for providing debt advice that is free, confidential, and impartial.
We were founded in 1993 with a simple aim that no one should have to pay for debt advice. And as a charity, we're proud to say that we've now supported over five million people in the UK.
We help people worried about debt by giving them free advice, and offering debt solutions that can help them write off some, or all of what they owe. Or they could pay it back over a longer period, for example, in a debt management plan. Unlike lots of charities, we're not funded by donations from the public. Most of our funding comes from organisations that lend money or provide credit for their services, like banks, credit card providers, and energy companies.
Some make one-off donations to us, and others pay something called 'fair share'. 'Fair share' just means that if we set up a repayment plan for one of their customers, then some of those companies make a small monthly donation to StepChange for managing the plan. They donate to us because they to do the right thing. They recognise that people in debt need extra support to get back on their feet.
As well as this, we also receive some funding from the Scottish Government. So why do hundreds of thousands of people trust us every year? Because of how we're funded, there must be some kind of catch, right? But there isn't, because we're regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
They make sure that the way we operate and the advice we give is clear, fair, and the best interest of our clients.
And because we're a charity and overseen by the Charity Commission, we are also very careful to make sure that everything we do is ethical.
For over thirty years, we've helped millions of people across the UK and we firmly believe that no one should pay for debt advice when they're already struggling.
So if you think you need help with your debts, visit stepchange.org. Debt happens. Let's deal with it. Thanks for watching.