In Winchester, 169 people entered the Government’s Breathing Space scheme in 2025, which offers temporary legal protection from creditor action, freezes interest and pauses charges for up to 60 days.
Jack Sporcic, a debt adviser at National Debtline, said: “Behind every Breathing Space application is someone trying to find a way to cope.
“At National Debtline, we’re hearing from people who have never struggled with their finances before, but rising costs have pushed them into difficulty.”
The scheme, also known as the Debt Respite Scheme, allows individuals time to access free debt advice and come up with a plan for dealing with their debts.
Since its launch in 2021, a total of 598 people in Winchester have…