I think this is a really interesting pilot project.

In short, there will be a monthly meeting in Edinburgh where people that are at various stages of tackling debt can meet in person.

The aim is to provide practical and emotional support.

If you live in or around Edinburgh it might be worth having a read of the article that Kevin has linked to. I guess it will not be for everyone, but for some it might be really very valuable.

Kelly Gallagher from Money Advice Scotland is leading the project. If anyone has any questions about it Kelly will be able to answer them here in the forum or via the email address that she has supplied in the article.

Kelly might appreciate knowing whether there would be support for such a meeting in other parts of the country as well.

Brilliant idea wish it had been there 3 years ago!

I agree, jimmybee. As trust deed assistant says, it won't suit everyone, but if there is one thing this forum has shown me it is that a problem shared is a problem halved.

The only thing is this place is anonymous and a sit down face to face meeting wont suit many people. I havent told anyone about our trust deed(other than our teenage son). It was our dirty little secret. I wouldnt want to bump into anyone I knew!!!

Paul

That's a fair point plasticdaft.

I think the opposite may be true for some people though. Communicating in writing suits many people, but equally some people may prefer the extra dimensions of face to face communication.

A very individual choice.

Personally I would like to attend the support group. I suppose it is a concern that you may bump in to someone that you know but if they too are attending 'what goes on at the meeting stays at the meeting!!!'

I would love to have told people that i had financial problems,much like people with alcohol or drug problems do,a lot of people feel alone, and maybe dont have the courage to do it thinking they are alone.
Meetings like this i think would be great, sepecially if it could attract people at differnt stages in their trust deed and those who have been discharged.To give their experiances willingly shows great courage and support to others,hope its a great success.But as said totally individuals choice.

I never have had a problem with telling people that I was sequestrated, as I see it if they have a problem with it it's their problem not mine! I have only had two people who gave me their unasked for opinions both of them backed down when I reeled off a string of facts about my Bankruptcy. I suppose it may be a bit easier for me because my business failed in the recession and despite trying everything I could to pull through it went .....
I didn't live extravagantly rarely took holidays or had a flashy car ( in hindsight maybe I should have)
You only get one life, don't go about worrying what people think or say about you, cos no matter what you do they will say or make it up anyway.

A great philosophy, on track. The more that people can be encouraged to be open about their situation, such as in groups like this, then hopefully little by little the stigma of debt will become less of an issue.

What a great idea[:)] I just wish I lived nearer Edinburgh[:(]

It is a great idea. Just like many people visit here without comment, they benefit from the discussion. Many will find an actual meeting more helpful.

Personally, the time commitment is a factor, some discussions here are necessarily lengthy and have many contributors. I love the fact that i can ask for help /opinion at 2am and will have an answer even a day later. Not much in the world of dealing with debt is on an urgent timescale, in my experience. If I was going to a meeting it's a commitment form family time that I wouldn't always manage.

Also, my view is close to on track's but I am part of a couple and need to be aware of my OH's fear of being exposed as a bankrupt.

More open sharing would help break dowwn the stigma and limit the false facts which are spouted.

My wife has been and still is very supportive throughout this journey,there are a few issues with the "lumping together" all the bankruptcy /trust deeds etc. reading the posts it seems to vary from the irresponsible ( or naive ) borrowing to the " life crashing down through no fault of the bankrupt. There are few signs of deliberate avoidance of debt. Perhaps we should move to a more American acceptance of the situation that s*** happens and move on.
I personally don't have a problem with having gone into sequestration, as I pointed out to the last person giving their opinion in all the years of being self employed I had paid around one Million pounds in Tax Paye Ni Vat etc etc. they on the other hand had worked for the council in a contact centre for 20+ years and their net contribution to the economy was financially negative.
Life moves on and getting to hung up on the opinions of others is maybe not a healthy position. But that's my philosophy perhaps it was easier for me to " come out" as I was a businessman in a small town and most people knew what happened without me telling them.
The whole bankruptcy thing has somewhat paled into insignificance recently as my wife has been diagnosed with Parkinson's which puts another slant on my view of the future. Again though I am not bothered about whether people know or not. We all have our lives to live, get on and do it

Hello OnTrack

Admist all the financial worries shared on here, I was so sorry to hear about your wife's diagnosis.

I do not know much about the disease, however, I wish your wife a successful treatment plan that will minimise the effects and maximise your life enjoyment together.

When I read your post I was reminded of Michael J Fox's excellent and uplifting biography about his life after diagnosis with Parkinson's.

Kind thoughts and very best wishes to you both.

Hi Everyone

Thanks for your interest in the Support Group, which does aim primarily to provide practical and emotional support to people who are in financial difficulty. I hope that people attending the group will meet others who are in a similar situation to their own, and form relationships which will enable them to support each other outwith the group meetings, as well as at the meetings.

Group members will be asked to adhere to the Support Group Guidelines:

1) KEEP CONFIDENTIALITY - "What you hear here stays here"
2) MAKE "I STATEMENTS" - Avoid using "you" or "we"
3) STAY IN THE "HERE AND NOW" - Share what you are dealing with today or this week.
4) SHARE FEELINGS about your experience.
5) NO FIXING - NO ADVICE GIVING
6) NO CROSSTALK ÔÇô Allow Group Members to Speak.

There are people who still stigmatise people who are in 'financial difficulty' and we totally understand that people attending may be reluctant to be identified, there will be guidance around confidentiality and the importance of anonymity provided at the initial meeting, and for people joining the group thereafter.

The initial meeting will be taking place on Wednesday the 27th February at 6 p.m. If you are available and would like to attend please e-mail me with your details.

For those contributors outside Edinburgh, please get in touch if you are interested in the Support group, if there is currently sufficient demand for a group in an area outside Edinburgh it may be possible to look at setting up further groups. This is a pilot project and if it is successful the meetings may be set up across Scotland in the future.

Thanks again for your interest.
Kelly