Life in the Debt Trap

"Life in the Debt Trap is required reading on our BA Social Sciences. As well as using it to teach students about the impact of problem debt on children and families, we use it to stimulate reflection on how best to present our research findings when we want to persuade policymakers of the need for action on pressing social issues. We consider the book to be exemplary in this respect. We also use it to illustrate the value of taking seriously young people’s perspectives on issues that affect them." Sharon Gewirtz, Centre for Public Policy Research, King’s College London

"Life in the debt trap is essential reading for anyone trying to understand the reality of people’s lives when they are struggling with debt. We have used it internally to bring to life the difficulties that many of our customers will experience every day as it is more insightful than any text book could ever be. When I finished reading it, I really cared about the people that I’d “met” and wanted to know what happened to them afterwards. I have recommended the book to many people and will continue to do so." Siobhan O’Loughlin, N Power

I have used The Debt Trap in a number of ways:

• encouraging MA students on our module on child poverty to read it to get a sense of the issues of debt and poverty in relation to children’s lives;

• encouraging dissertation students at MA and BA level to use it both for the subject matter and for the insights into doing research in the real world, and the kinds of ethical and methodological issues that might arise;

• using it with BA students to bring to life some of the issues around child poverty in a less academic way, given the real insights into people’s lives that are possible through the story telling approach.

I also highlight it often in conference presentations, especially in relation to the story about the girl who took so much pride in helping her mum to manage. It’s such an effective way of highlighting children’s agency in the context of poverty, and the complex way in which the different rights that children have can interact and come into conflict with each other.

“A powerful and compelling account of family life in the context of problem debt. Required reading for people studying, working with, and most importantly making policies affecting low-income families.“ Gill Main, University of Leeds

“This beautifully written, perceptive and reflexive study of debt is a testament to the power of stories, grounded in wider research and policy contexts. Please read it.” Professor the Baroness Ruth Lister of Burtersett

Sorcha Mahony is a senior researcher at The Children’s Society and leads a unique research programme on the experiences of young people growing up in poverty.

Larissa Pople is a senior researcher at The Children’s Society where she leads the charity’s groundbreaking children’s wellbeing research programme.

The Children’s Society is a national charity that works with the most vulnerable children and young people in Britain today. We listen. We support. We act. Because no child should feel alone. www.childrenssociety.org.uk

Preface: The origins of the book

Introduction and methodological note

The journey

Isolation

Loss

Luxuries and necessities

Who cares?

The elephant in the room/consumerism

Guilt

The Others

Keeping up appearances

The child

The tyranny of the small things

Juggling

The downside of help

The debt premium

Dreams

The gift

Our participants

Concluding reflections