Over 200 debt advisers, support workers, policy makers and sector leaders from across the country will be coming together on Thursday 18 June, to strengthen understanding of the complex impact of economic abuse and coercive control across the debt advice sector.

 Delivered by Scotland’s money charity, Money Advice Scotland, and specialist economic abuse project, Financially Included, GEMAP Scotland Ltd, the Responding to Economic Abuse: A National Debt & Money Advice Conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow, is the first of its kind to be held in Scotland.

The agenda is designed to explore how economic abuse intersects with problem debt, poverty and financial exclusion, with presentations and workshops led by sector experts and discussion sessions with survivors of economic abuse. The programme aims to build confidence among debt advisers in recognising and responding to coerced debt and financial manipulation, highlighting trauma-informed approaches, partnership working and the role of policy in improving protection and outcomes.

Delegates will hear from Guest Speaker, Barbara Hughes, Consumer Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Expert with the Financial Conduct Authority as well as Money Advice Scotland Chief Executive, Janine Rennie and Financially Included Project Manager, Amber Cully.

 Workshops will be delivered by:

•  Aberlour Children’s Charity
• Accounting in Bankruptcy
• Financial Ombudsman Service
• Financially Included
• Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit
• Scottish Women’s Aid
• Experian
• Money Advice Plus
• Money Advice Scotland
• Statutory Debt Review Team.

 Money Advice Scotland’s Chief Executive, Janine Rennie, said, 

“One of our key roles at Money Advice Scotland is to provide training and events for the money advice sector and I’m delighted that, alongside Financially Included, we are hosting our first conference on economic abuse. It is often advice and support workers who first spot the signs of coerced debt and restricted access to money among their clients, and one of the aims of this event is to support them in identifying and effectively responding to this complex and traumatic experience. 

“This conference will explore the intersections between economic abuse, problem debt, poverty and financial exclusion and the role of policy in supporting stronger protections and better outcomes. We are also looking to strengthen partnership working and I’m pleased so many of our partners are attending and sharing their expert insight through the presentations, discussions and workshops planned.

 “The Responding to Economic Abuse conference is a valuable opportunity for everyone in the sector to connect, share practice and strengthen our collective efforts to address this growing form of domestic abuse.”