Christians Against Poverty has opened up 21 new debt counselling centres in churches across the UK.

Glasgow, Magherafelt in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Wight and Chester are among the places to receive new centres.

It brings the total number of CAP debt counselling centres across the UK to 218.

Clients are referred to the centres through GPs, mental health nurses, housing associations and the social services.

CAP works on behalf of the clients to work out a budget and resolve demands for repayment.

Participating churches are all specially trained to help people break free of their debts and work through the emotional and physical consequences.

“I am inspired again by the willingness of the church to do what they can do to help people who are crippled by personal debts in their community,” said founder and international director John Kirkby.

“The worst thing about debt isn’t the problem of having little or no money. It’s the way it makes you feel.

“It undermines your confidence, you start to doubt your own abilities, you feel a failure as a parent and you spend every waking hour trying puzzling how to break out of the trap you’re in.”

To find out more about opening a debt centre with CAP, the charity is holding special church partnership days throughout 2013. They are in Bradford on January 17, March 21, June 20, July 16, September 10, and December 3. There are also days in Pontyclun, Wales, on February 7; Exeter on May 17; Glasgow on October 10 and London on April 25 and November 21.
To attend, call 01274 760580 or email openacentre@capuk.org