Christians Against Poverty

is a charity that gives free debt help to anyone in debt.

Thousands of people have already been given hope and a solution through CAP Debt Centres.

CAP is a debt-relief charity, started in 1996 which has since risen to be one of the most-respected in the UK. It has 233 debt centres based at local churches right across the UK, with a vision to open a total of 500 to reach the entire nation. It empowers local churches to reach out to their neighbourhood with practical debt help and the love of Jesus. It also helps people to learn budgeting skills through its CAP Money Course, running in over 1000 churches, and it recently started CAP Job Clubs to help people back into work.

Whitehaven’s CAP Centre opened in May 2013, the third one in the county. The centre is based at St. John’s which has partnered with six other local churches to offer support and help to those in the grip of debt in the Whitehaven area. The CAP Whitehaven Church Partnership Group includes:

St. John’s, Hensingham
St. Bridget’s, Moresby
Woodbank Community Church
New Life Church, Whitehaven
Emmanuel Church, Moor Row
St. Bees Priory
and us!

The aim of the group is to support the CAP Centre, through prayer, finance and practical assistance. The centre manager is Jonathan Berry who, with the help of a team of befrienders, visits clients in their home to discuss their situation, communicating with CAP headquarters in Bradford who negotiate with creditors and who set up a CAP account for clients to pay money into, ensuring that there is enough left over for day-to-day living expenses. According to their situation, the clients will be given a timescale to becoming debt-free (usually within 5 years) as long as they stick to the plan. The befrienders stay in contact with clients, helping and supporting them through the time it takes to reach debt-freedom.

How to get in touch

To book an appointment, please phone the CAP Client Enquiries team FREE* on 0800 328 0006
*Calls are free from most landlines. Mobile operators may charge for calls to 0800 numbers. If you have inclusive minutes in your mobile phone tariff, please call 01274 760839 to avoid any charge for calls to non-geographic numbers.

How good is CAP’s service?

94% of clients described the service as 'life transforming' or 'a great help'
20,000 people are helped to become debt-free EACH YEAR!
Every year 10,000 people learn how to budget more effectively for their household through the CAP Money Course
500 people each year find a new life in Christ
Martin Lewis (of Money Saving Expert.com) describes CAP’s service as “the best in the UK”.

FAQs

Do I have to be a Christian?
No, CAP’s industry-leading service is available to everybody, no matter what their religious beliefs.

Does it cost anything?
No, CAP’s service is completely free for clients, although you may be so delighted with it that you’d like to see other families being helped in the same way by giving a donation (there is no obligation to do this).