Foreword

CHASM’s 2025 Annual Report provides an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the past year and to look forward to the priorities for the year ahead.

CHASM has continued to build on its strong foundation of research and policy engagement, working to improve financial inclusion, reduce debt burdens, support savings, and explore the broader consequences of financial insecurity and exclusion. CHASM has taken an important step in its commitment to education and shaping future leaders in this field through the development of a new master's module on financial wellbeing and inclusion for Global Public Policy at the University of Birmingham.

The team’s research has played an important role in national policy discussions on financial inclusion with two reports commissioned by the Financial Inclusion Commission. These reports were launched at the House of Lords and received significant media coverage, helping to elevate the conversation around inclusive financial services.

CHASM again hosted a series of impactful seminars and workshops that tackled pressing issues from UK and international academics, providing a valuable platform for dialogue between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

It has also been a pleasure to welcome new members to the CHASM community. Professor Martin Coppack has joined us as Professor of Practice in Financial Inclusion and Consumer Policy. Martin brings with him a wealth of experience and has already made a strong contribution, including delivering this year’s CHASM Annual Lecture on the Poverty Premium. We’re also delighted to welcome Tom Levitt to the CHASM Advisory Board. Tom’s background as a writer, consultant on responsible business, co-founder of the ethical lending social enterprise Fair for You, and former Member of Parliament will provide invaluable insight and direction.

As CHASM looks to the year ahead, its vision of a fairer and more financially inclusive society through rigorous, policy-relevant research and engagement with decision-makers and the public continues. Notably, we will see this with the launch of a new Financial Inclusion Monitor responding to the needs of Government and other stakeholders for a reliable compilation of statistics that can be used to assess progress towards key targets of the new Financial Inclusion Strategy.

None of this would be possible without the dedication of the CHASM team, the support of our Advisory Board, the organisations that fund our work, and, importantly, the individuals and communities who take part in our research. I offer my sincere thanks to all of you. I am proud to support as Chair of the Advisory Board and to support CHASM’s vital work in translating research into meaningful change. I look forward to what we will achieve together in the coming year.