Six million visit StepChange’s website for debt help

^{3 March 2025}

StepChange Debt Charity’s website received over six million visits in 2024, while the charity delivered full, free debt advice to over 170,000 clients, according to its latest impact report, published today.

Despite some signs of financial stability returning in 2024, such as falling interest rates and inflation, the reality is much more complex for people struggling with problem debt.

The charity helped clients to identify over £9.1 million in additional monthly income through its online benefits checker.

These figures come as StepChange prepares to launch a new five-year strategy, which will evolve its service to adapt to changing client needs, with a clear focus on breaking down stigma around debt and strengthening household financial resilience.

The previous strategic period which ran from 2022 – 2025 was set against a backdrop of new challenges for the charity post pandemic and with an escalating cost of living crisis. During this time StepChange strengthened its partnerships across key sectors, including energy. As a result, last year the charity secured £18.7 million of direct donations for advice provision from partner organisations, a 55% increase on 2023.

Vikki Brownridge, CEO at StepChange Debt Charity, said:

"The last few years have been turbulent for household finances with rising living costs driving more complex debt problems among our clients. I’m proud of how our colleagues at StepChange have adapted our service to support those in need of free and impartial debt advice.

"We look forward to soon launching our new five-year strategy, which is informed by everything we have learnt from clients, colleagues and partners about how we can tackle the root causes of problem debt, and drive long-term financial resilience."

Notes to Editors

• StepChange’s 2024 Impact Report can be found here.