‘I still find it incredible that in such a prosperous society as ours, so many people are living in poverty as a result of being financially excluded. Some people struggle even to get a bank account, and get by day-to-day living cash in hand. One charity told us about Janet, who used to go for days without food or electricity, living by candlelight, so she could pay back a high-interest loan. This isn’t a Dickens novel. It’s the reality of financial exclusion.'
Esther de Jong, Research analyst