A charity helping the poorest families to fight poverty is witnessing a rapid expansion to cope with growing demand for its services.

Christians Against Poverty was founded by John Kirkby in 1996. He left his 17-year career in the consumer finance industry to help people break the downward spiral of debt.

Fifteen months on he has a staff of four. Their salaries and the charity's running costs are met entirely by donations.

The latest recruit is Ruth Graves, 29, who plans to leave her job as a senior cashier at Lloyds Bank at the end of the month.

She heard about Cap when she dealt with the charity's account at the branch in Manchester Road, West Bowling.

Mr Kirkby said: "We hope to take on another full-time counsellor this year. It's the sheer demand for our specialist work that is really creating this momentum. Even now we daren't advertise."

Cap has helped 60 households so far and has set itself a target of 100 to 150 new families in 1998.

They are shown ways of effectively managing their bills and given free advice about how to break away from debts. Hopes for 1998 also include work in Buttershaw, Windhill and Shipley.

Mr Kirkby said he was expecting a wave of families needing help following overspending at Christmas. "We are bracing ourselves for the numbers," he said.

He appealed to Telegraph & Argus readers for money to keep the project growing in the next few months.

"This is an opportunity for companies or any individual to make a difference by funding a long-term scheme for the poorest people in Bradford," he said. "We run a sponsorship scheme where individuals can give from just £2 a month and know they are making a real difference to people locally."

Anyone wanting to make a donation, join the sponsorship scheme or families needing advice and information can write to Christians Against Poverty, Freepost NEA 3201, Bradford, BD7 1BR.

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