Libraries swap fines for donations to food bank

Libraries swap fines for donations to food bank

Primary schools give free food to hungry families

Primary schools give free food to hungry families

Pets being abandoned by owners facing money problems

Pets being abandoned by owners facing money problems

Foodbank forced to double size to cope with demand

Foodbank forced to double size to cope with demand

Bedford teenager foregoes birthday gifts to help food bank

A 13-year-old girl who asked for charity donations instead of birthday presents has handed over groceries worth about £500 to a food bank.

Katya Barwood, of Bedford, wanted to help those less fortunate than her.

North Norfolk author backs call to fill foodbanks

Susan Hill was moved to act when she heard that the food bank in Preston, Lancashire was dangerously low on food.

North Norfolk author backs call to fill foodbanks

BBC Radio 4 - Money Box, Struggling with insolvency

Struggling with insolvency

Money Box

For decades, Stoke-on-Trent was powered by industry, with tens of thousands working in mining and pottery. But when the mines and factories closed, generations of people were left out of work. For some, not working became a culture that stuck.

But that's not the only reason why Stoke is the insolvency capital on England and Wales. The average wage in the area is £5,000 less than the national average, plus there are low levels of literacy, numeracy and IT skills. Poverty and poor health have helped reinforce financial exclusion, trapping many in a spiral of debt and deprivation which they can't get out of.

Now the North Staffordshire Financial Inclusion Group is on a five-year mission to eradicate Stoke's debt issues. It plans to work with schools to get personal finance on the curriculum and actively target people who are struggling.

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporter: Hazel Morgan and Dan Whitworth
Producer: Alex Lewis
Editor Emma Rippon

BBC Radio 4 - Money Box, Struggling with insolvency