Stoke-on-Trent named fifth poorest area in England as residents 'just cover bills'

-Credit:Nathan Stirk/Getty Images
-Credit:Nathan Stirk/Getty Images


Stoke-on-Trent has been named on a list of England's 'poorest' places where residents are battling to stay afloat. A recent study by Fair4All Finance ranked towns and cities based on the number of adults living in 'financially vulnerable circumstances', offering a glimpse into areas where households are grappling with cost of living pressures.

The Potteries was one of a handful of Midlands towns making the list coming in at 5th with 56% of people categorised as financially vulnerable, meaning they're many barely making ends meet and just covering their monthly bills.

Fair4All Finance found that 42 per cent of adults in the West Midlands live in vulnerable circumstances, with many areas in the region ranking in the top ten nationally.

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Many of the listed towns and cities were predictably in the north of England or the Midlands, although the poorest town was Harlow in Essex. This was followed by Sunderland, South Tyneside and Blackburn with Darwen.

Experts warned that millions of Brits were barely getting by and potentially just one crisis away from financial disaster. Diane Burridge, director of development at Fair4all Finance, has sounded the alarm on the growing financial vulnerability among UK adults.

She said: "The rising number of adults living in financially vulnerable circumstances is a wake-up call for systemic change. With 38% of the UK adult population now facing financial difficulties, these findings underscore the urgent need for coordinated, system wide efforts to create a society where financial stability is not a privilege but a minimum standard."

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She highlighted the critical nature of cash access for millions, saying, "Access to cash is critical for millions who rely on it to manage their daily expenses, yet it's increasingly out of reach for many communities. Beyond cash, we must prioritise improving financial inclusion by ensuring affordable and accessible financial services are available to everyone, especially in underserved areas."

Burridge called for a collaborative approach to tackle financial exclusion: "Policymakers, businesses, and financial institutions must work together to develop inclusive policies and products that provide people with the tools and resources to build financial resilience. Only by addressing these challenges collectively can we build a financial system that truly supports everyone, regardless of their circumstances or location."

Helen Torresi, chair of the board for Advance Credit Union, said: "We have seen a significant increase in the number of people turning to us for financial help in the last year with the number of new members almost doubling on the year before.

“Requests for loan applications from members have skyrocketed, while fewer non-members are joining to save with us. As higher household costs take priority over putting money aside for emergencies, we are also seeing higher numbers of members withdrawing their savings.

"The impact of the cost-of-living crisis on those who were previously able to get by reinforces the importance of everyone being able to access affordable credit when they need it.

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"It’s incredibly important that those struggling financially know help is out there and don’t turn to predatory lenders due to fears their poor credit score leaves no other option. At Advance Credit Union we strive to provide everyone in our community with access to fair and affordable finance."

The 'poorest' parts of the Midlands

1. Sandwell - 68 per cent financially vulnerable.

2. Stoke-on-Trent - 56 per cent financially vulnerable.

3. Birmingham - 53 per cent financially vulnerable.

4. Walsall - 52 per cent financially vulnerable.

5. Coventry - 51 per cent financially vulnerable.

6. Wolverhampton - 49 per cent financially vulnerable.

7. Telford and Wrekin - 44 per cent financially vulnerable.

8. Dudley - 43 per cent financially vulnerable.

9. Tamworth - 40 per cent financially vulnerable.

10. Nuneaton and Bedworth - 40 per cent financially vulnerable.

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