Life in the debt trap

Sorcha Mahony is a senior researcher at The Children’s Society and leads a unique research programme on the experiences of young people growing up in poverty. Larissa Pople is a senior researcher at The Children’s Society where she leads the charity’s groundbreaking children’s wellbeing research programme. The Children’s Society is a national charity that works with the most vulnerable children and young people in Britain today. We listen. We support. We act. Because no child should feel alone. www.childrenssociety.org.uk

Preface: The origins of the book
Introduction and methodological note
The journey
Isolation
Loss
Luxuries and necessities
Who cares?
The elephant in the room/consumerism
Guilt
The Others
Keeping up appearances
The child
The tyranny of the small things
Juggling
The downside of help
The debt premium
Dreams
The gift
Our participants
Concluding reflections