According to UK government data for the year ending 2023, there were an estimated 2.4 million separated families and 3.8 million children living in those households. More than half of divorced families had formal child maintenance arrangements —a figure that highlights the growing intersection of family separation and financial strain. This month’s Debt Talk with Ripon Ray dives deep into the theme: ‘Family Planning, Divorce & Debt’ , bringing forward real-life stories that reveal how personal relationships, cultural expectations, and legal frameworks collide—often with emotional and financial consequences. Bilkis Khanom , a British Bangladeshi woman, bravely shares her story of marrying outside her religious and cultural upbringing. Although she married under Islamic law, her separation left her feeling isolated—both emotionally and socially. She discusses the legal and personal challenges she faced, and the profound impact of being disconnected from her community during a vu...

  'Dear Ripon, I wanted to sincerely thank you for taking the time to speak with me and share your experiences and insights. It was truly an honour to learn from someone who has made such a meaningful impact in the debt advice space, both through Citizens Advice and Debt Talk CIC. Your passion for equitable representation, especially your tireless work in amplifying the voices of the Bangladeshi community, is both inspiring and deeply needed. Your leadership and pioneering spirit came through clearly in our conversation, and it has greatly enriched my understanding of the real-world challenges and innovations within the sector. I also admire your ability to use platforms like your podcast to reach and empower audiences internationally. It’s a powerful reminder of how dedication and purpose-driven communication can create real change. Thank you again for your time and openness. I am truly grateful, and I hope to carry forward the insights you have shared in a meaningfu...

6% of UK children now rely on foodbanks. What does that say about the state’s responsibility toward children and other vulnerable members of society? Is the current welfare state fit for purpose? Or are we sleepwalking into the slow erosion of what remains of it? In this month’s Debt Talk podcast, hosted by Ripon Ray, three distinguished experts joined the conversation on “Foodbanks & the Welfare State.” Helen Barnard from the Trussell Trust spoke about how poverty in the UK runs far deeper than it appears. The prevalence of child poverty reflects the shameful state of public affairs in Britain, where turning to foodbanks has become the norm for many families. The lack of food at home doesn’t just affect individuals—it also places added pressure on public services, including health and social care. Dan White from Disability Rights UK highlighted how already marginalised communities, particularly disabled people, have been further targeted by current government policies. Discrimin...

It was a true honour to take part in the Enterprise Season on the Today Show on Islam Channel in East London, alongside Khaleel Muhammad. I shared my personal journey to become a debt adviser—a path shaped by lived experience and a deep desire to support others. Since then, I’ve established Debt Talk CIC, a community-led initiative created to address the specific needs of the Bengali community in Tower Hamlets and beyond. I also had the opportunity to present my book, Covid Crisis: The Brit-Bangla Covid, which reflects some of the challenges our community has faced in recent years. I hope I represented our community with sincerity, openness, and positivity. Long live Debt Talk CIC!

The Debt Talk podcast, Britain's highest-rated debt podcast, has now undergone a new visual transformation, thanks to Doug Haywood, the East End artist, and my design team. I thought I would share the new design with you before the release of the next podcast. As you can see, it is modern, forward-looking and dynamic. It embraces innovation while maintaining the original mission, which is to explore the causes of people getting into debt and provide practical solutions to these causes. If you want to be a sponsor or panellist based on your expertise, get in touch with me. ripon@debttalk.org Ciao bella!

  Just over 13% of the UK population are self-employed. Is being self-employed the way forward or are we forced to choose the path? In this month’s Debt Talk podcast, Ripon Ray spoke with three guests from different perspectives. James Harris has been self-employed for nearly 25 years in the creative sector. He explained how funding in the creative sector has been reduced. There are also very few fashion shows compared to when he began his career in the sector. His work began to dry out and it can vary from season to season. His biggest worry is personal finance since Universal Credit introduced the Minimum Income Floor leading to him getting into rent and other arrears. Andy Chamberlain - Director of Policy from the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-employed Limited - explained the direction of travel within the context of the self-employment sector. He focused on the construction sector is heavily relies on self-employment and then perhaps the creati...