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Mon, 20 Apr 2026

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 Debt problems in seaside town among UK's worst

A debt charity believes the town's seasonal job market is in part to blame.

* Great Yarmouth has the third highest rate of people needing debt support in England and Wales.
* 293 people living in Great Yarmouth entered into a debt respite scheme last year, with a rate of 36.2 per 10,000 people.
* The place with the highest rate is Halton in Cheshire (54.9 per 10,000 people), followed by Blackpool (38.1 per 10,000 people).
* Norfolk-wide, there were 1,322 people in Breathing Space, with Norwich having the second highest rate at 23.2 per 10,000.
* The number of people in the county using the service has nearly doubled since 2021, rising from 8.8 to 17.2 per 10,000.
* One in every 550 adults (equivalent to 89,132 people) entered into Breathing Space last year.
* Rates were highest for 25-44-year-olds and lowest for those over 65.
* The seasonal job market in Great Yarmouth leaves people struggling with finances in the winter months.
* Mental health is also a key factor that leaves people vulnerable to falling into debt.
* Global events affecting the cost of living are expected to lead to more people falling into financial difficulty.