Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has launched a new phone-based debt counselling service CAP Direct in response to the recent report from the Conservative Party which warned that "personal debt is the most serious social problem facing the UK today".
CAP Direct has been set up "to release people from the burden of debt and empower them to find financial freedom once more", said CAP, and aims to complement the charity's network of face-to-face debt counselling centres based in local churches across the UK.
"In just its first few weeks CAP Direct has had a dramatic impact on clients' lives - seeing homes saved from repossession, hope restored, and most importantly, clients coming to know Christ as their personal Saviour," said CAP.
Kim is one such person. She found herself overwhelmed by debt after her husband died six years ago, and she was subsequently abused and taken advantage of by her next partner. She was unable to pay back her debt and faced the reality of losing her home.
"I was working seven days a week but it didn't matter how hard I worked, it didn't make any difference to my debt situation. I was going home physically drained but also emotionally exhausted. I wanted to fulfil my commitments and pay back my creditors - but the situation was just getting worse," she says.
One of the problems of debt is that it isolates, says CAP. Kim felt like she was the only person suffering in this way and when compounded with the grief of losing her husband, those feelings of loneliness simply intensified.
