In this month’s Debt Talk podcast, Ripon Ray explores one of the most pressing challenges in modern Britain: the real cost of digital inclusion. As technology becomes central to everyday life, what happens to those left behind? How do we bring marginalised communities into the digital mainstream without deepening inequality or compromising privacy? Joining the conversation is Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, who unpacks what true digital inclusion means in today’s society. From a student needing online tools for geography lessons to individuals struggling to upload documents or access essential services, Elizabeth illustrates the profound impact of being digitally excluded. She reveals staggering figures on how many people remain disconnected and the steep social and economic cost of bridging that divide. Elizabeth also delves into the government’s proposed digital ID initiative, raising critical questions about the price of inclusion and the potential e...

Dear Friends of Debt Talk, You are warmly invited to take part in a landmark community consultation and lunch to help establish the first-ever Bangladeshi-led Debt Advice Service in the UK, funded by Tower Hamlets Council. Detailed agenda to follow soon. Currently, no debt advice service represents the Bangladeshi community. Many residents continue to face financial struggles without a service that fully understands their cultural, linguistic, and social needs. The urgency of this work is clear. Many of us are still living with the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which left deep scars through job losses, debt, and financial insecurity. These struggles have been compounded by structural inequalities that disproportionately affect Bangladeshi and other minority communities in Tower Hamlets. This consultation is about ensuring that the new service is shaped by the very people it is meant to serve, so it reflects their lived experiences and provides the right kind of suppo...

As we leave the summer of 2025 behind and step into October, we enter a month that is unapologetic, bold, and powerful: 'Black History Month in Britain'. This is a time to honour struggle and triumph, to celebrate the contributions of Black communities, and to confront the uncomfortable realities of poverty and inequality that still persist today. Welcome to the Debt Talk Podcast. I’m your host, Ripon Ray. This episode: “Poverty & Black History in Britain.” To guide us through this important conversation, I’m joined by two remarkable guests: Jerry During, founder of Money A&E, the UK’s first lived-experience-led debt and financial education service, was born in Newham. Jerry shared how his father’s experience of debt shaped his childhood, and how his own awareness of being Black sharpened as he pursued a legal career. In law firms, the only non-white faces he encountered were in low-income roles, such as those of cleaners and receptionists. That moment stayed with hi...

In this month’s Debt Talk podcast, we discuss: 'Cars & Their Costs'. To explore the topic, Ripon Ray speaks with: - Alison Tooze , from the BPA - British Parking Association - Sam Nurse, CEO of Money Advice Hub Alison Tooze emphasised the importance of preventing parking-related crises and outlined steps drivers can take to reduce the risk of receiving fixed penalty notices or penalty charge notices. She explained the differences between tickets issued under criminal and civil law, how each is recovered, and the associated costs. Alison Tooze described how disputes can arise when road users believe tickets have been wrongly issued, and she outlined the process for challenging them. She noted that appeal decision-makers can also take mitigating circumstances into account. Sam Nurse highlighted the importance of participating in a public consultation on the new Private Parking Code of Practice, which is seeking views on proposals to raise standards in the private pa...

  Car dealers and finance companies may have misled many people in our community and could be owed money. A big  Supreme Court case  decided that if lenders  hid high commissions  from buyers—often targeting people who didn’t fully understand the    contracts. We know: Many of us don’t speak English fluently,   salespeople don’t always explain the small print, we’re told “just sign here” without knowing the cost Now, there's a chance to  get justice . Debt Talk CIC  is a local, Bangladeshi-led organisation offering  Bangla-speaking support  to help you: Understand what’s going on Check if you were mis-sold Get support to take action— for free This isn’t just about cars. It’s about  respect, justice, and standing up  for our rights.

Dear Friends, This is the moment many of us have been waiting for. For the first time in living memory, a community-led initiative founded and driven by the Bengali community in East London is here: Debt Talk CIC. I’m proud to lead this first phase of outreach, offering practical, high-quality advice and support on the issues that matter most—benefits, debt, housing, and more—right at the heart of our community. This is just the beginning. As we grow, so too will our capacity to serve, all while staying rooted in our values and lived experiences. Please feel free to share the attached leaflet widely. Together, we can make sure everyone in our community knows where to turn for clear, transparent, and trustworthy support. This is about building a future led by us, for us. With solidarity, Ripon