Debt Counselling Centre Celebrates Five Years In Guildford

Published on: 25 Apr, 2017
Updated on: 27 Apr, 2017

A national charity with a branch in Guildford is marking five years of rescuing local people from the misery of personal debt – a free service that is literally saving lives.

In 2012, 16 churches in Guildford, felt they wanted to do more to help people tackle their financial worries.

They partnered with UK debt counselling charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) and received training to open a local branch based at Westborough United Reformed Church.

This Saturday, April 29, the now 18 churches, will be celebrating at Westborough URC with a cream tea and a chance to hear some of their clients’ stories and to celebrate the many families who have benefited from the free, face-to-face debt counselling.

A third of CAP’s clients say they were suicidal before coming to the charity for help.

CAP’s Guildford centre manager Jane Seals.

CAP’s Guildford centre manager Jane Seals said: “Debt isn’t just about the lack of money someone has. It’s about what it does to a person, often when they are already feeling very low from unemployment, relationship breakdown or illness.

“The great pleasure of doing this job is to see the rapid change that comes about when people have that burden lifted and they see order restored. Hope creeps in again and that is an amazing thing to see.”

After calling the Freephone number, all clients are seen in their own home. Any paperwork such as unpaid bills are collected and sent to CAP’s head office where staff negotiate with every creditor, construct a budget and examine the best route out of debt.

To find out more about CAP visit www.capuk.org or call 0800 328 0006.