Less than 20 years ago a Bradford man used his spare room to start a charity that now spans the world.

And it is hoping to open further centres in the district and throughout the UK this year.

With meagre funds, John Kirkby started Christians Against Poverty (CAP) in 1996. His aim was to help people crippled by debt, who struggled to feed their families and felt there was no way out.

Marianne Clough, then a journalist with the Telegraph & Argus, recalls going along to interview John, who gave up a career in consumer finance to set up CAP.

“In that room, in a house in Great Horton, he explained that he was trying to provide a service to help people in Bradford, “ she recalls.

Now working for CAP herself, at the charity’s smart headquarters in Jubilee Mill, North Street, where 250 people are employed, she adds: “It is astonishing to see so many people, all working to help those in difficulty.”

CAP now has 270 debt centres in the UK, based in churches. Centres have also opened in New Zealand, Australia and Canada, offering debt advice, job clubs and money management courses.

“For people who are in crisis debt we go to their homes and sit with them and work out what is happening and try and plan a way forward. We take away all their paperwork. We negotiate with every creditor on their behalf.”

Across the UK around 27,000 people are helped every year, many in desperate need. “A third of those who contact us are suicidal,” says Marianne. “It is all money-based. We tell them that no situation is beyond help.”

Based in churches across the country, the charity also runs money management course. Local locations include St Andrew’s Methodist Church on Otley Road, Holy Trinity Church, Greenhead Road, Keighley and Champions Church in Skipton. A number of courses begin this month, with details available on CAP’s website.

Budgeting skills and a cash-based system are taught, which has been shown to work for many. “We encourage people to use cash so they keep a handle on their spending and stop using their overdraft. People are encouraged to try to not to use a card for a week.”

Run in partnership with The Light Church, free job clubs for job seekers help people to get back into employment, step-by-step. St Stephen’s Church in Newton Street, West Bowling and The Oak Church in Farsley are among the venues.

As Christians Against Poverty, the organisation “does what it says on the tin,” adds Marianne , “We always offer to pray with the client when we go to their home. We offer them something a little bit different. We are true to who we are.”

CAP receives no Government funding, being supported by many regular, albeit small, donations. “It gives us the freedom to do what we believe works best.”

She adds: “We would like more churches to come on board." Church leaders can find out more at a CAP partnership day in Bradford later this month.

This year the charity is piloting ‘release groups’ for those who may want to give up a habit, such as smoking or gambling, that is a drain on their finances.

John Kirkby, who lives in Shipley, is proud of what he and his ever-expanding team has achieved. “I remember when I sat at my computer in my bedroom office and wrote the words 'debt counselling'. It did feel momentous but really, I had no idea what CAP would look like in the coming years and how many lives it would change.

“I had no idea of the struggle that lay ahead of me in the early days as we tried to fund the charity and convince people to back us. However, God has been good to us at every stage and has provided some amazing people along the way who have taken the vision forward both practically and through their prayers and giving.

“We are always trying to improve what we do but our aim all along has been to give the very best service to people with the very least. This is why our service is designed for the people struggling the most, the most complicated cases, the most socially marginalised clients.

“It is my greatest pleasure to tell those people that whatever mistakes they have made, whatever mess they are in, there is a positive way out and that God sees and cares for their situation.”

*capuk.org; CAP Partnership Day is on January 27 at Jubilee Mill, Jermyn Street, off Stott Hill, BD1 4EJ Tel: 01274 760580. Booking is required.

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