National debt-counselling charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is celebrating the launch of its 100th church-based debt counselling centre across the UK, as the recession pushes millions more people towards the brink of financial crisis.

The charity also revealed that demand for its service has more than doubled since Christmas, with calls from people desperate for help with their finances rising from 65 per week in December to 150 per week in March.

CAP offers a free, face-to-face professional debt counselling service through local churches to anyone struggling with unmanageable debt, providing hope and a solution to thousands of people each year. The charity recently won the Sunday Times’ “Best Small Companies to Work For” Award in March for the second year running.

The 100th CAP centre opens in Leicester in partnership with Leicester Christian Fellowship, and will start to see clients from 4 May. The centre is one of thirteen across the UK opening in May, as the charity pursues its aim of opening 35 new centres in 2009.

CAP’s Chief Executive, Matt Barlow, said, “We are so excited to be opening our 100th centre, as this marks a significant milestone in our progress towards our vision of having a centre in every UK town or city by 2021.

“It is so exciting that the church will be recognised for holding the answers to on of the biggest problems in our society today, meeting people’s practical needs as well as spiritual.

“We have now equipped 100 churches in the UK to offer a real solution to people in their communities, and I can’t wait to hear of the lives that will be changed as a result of these thirteen new centres reaching out to people in need.

“Whilst we’ve come a long way since 1996, we’re not going to rest on our laurels, though. We have a massive vision to see this nation transformed and we urge any churches interested in partnering with us to contact us immediately. The need for our service is massive, but I know we can respond to meet that need.”