Debt Talk CIC publishes its first report
Breaking Point to Breaking Through reveals a hidden debt crisis affecting Bangladeshi Londoners, based on community consultations with over 45 residents, frontline workers and statutory organisations in Tower Hamlets.
Despite 63% of Bangladeshi Londoners living in poverty, there is no dedicated, culturally responsive debt advice service for this community. The report shows how shame and honour (izzat), faith-based barriers to interest, informal lending, remittance pressures and intergenerational trauma combine to push families into crisis before they seek help.
Participants were clear: mainstream debt services are not working. Generic advice, interest-based solutions, digital-only access and short-term funding models exclude Bangladeshi lived realities.
The report outlines community-designed solutions, including Bengali-speaking advisors, trauma-informed and faith-aware support, Shariah-compliant credit pathways, holistic debt and wellbeing support, and outreach in trusted community spaces.
Founded in 2025, Debt Talk CIC is the UK’s first Bangladeshi-led debt advice and financial education service, building on proven community-led approaches developed during the COVID-19 response.
This report makes one thing clear: Bangladeshi poverty is specific, structural and solvable — and the time to act is now.
