Refresh -Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre

Refresh - Weymouth and Portland CAP Debt Centre

Our Story

This year marks our 10 year anniversary as a Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre. Knowing how many people in our area struggle with unmanageable debt local churches came together to open a debt centre in 2014 and since then 150 people have gone debt free. As the centre has grown the impact of our work has increased with 98 of our debt free successes happening in the past 5 years. With 3 qualified, part-time Debt Coaches and a team of volunteers we are able to support clients across all of Weymouth and Portland.

7 neighbourhoods in Weymouth and Portland fall into the top 20% nationally for income deprivation. A 2019 report by End Child Poverty showed that 30% of under-16s here were living in poverty which rises to 40% in the districts of Melcombe Regis, Weymouth East and Underhill. At CAP we know that struggling with debt is a big factor in many people’s experience of poverty. It also causes a huge amount of stress and can worsen mental health with the majority of our clients requiring mental health support. The stress can even bring people to the point of considering suicide. As one of our clients said, ‘I don’t know how many people are committing suicide because of debt. I know I was there.’ Debt traps people in a place of hopelessness, as one client said, ‘I was so worried because I kind of felt like I might…lose everything…’

Bringing Hope

The Weymouth and Portland Debt Centre is here to bring hope to people struggling with debt. We are able to help with immediate needs by doing things like foodbank referrals or helping to buy school uniform. With the expert advice of the Head Office team in Bradford we then explain to people their options for getting out of debt and give them a budget to help them stay out of debt in the future. Helping people deal with their debt and look after their finances gives them a fresh start. As one client said about when she got the phone call from a CAP staff member to say she had gone debt free, ‘I cried with her…because it was something I never ever thought that would happen. I thought I’d always be in debt for the rest of my life…’ 

By having face-to-face meetings with our clients we are able to offer personalised support and take as much time as each client needs to get through the process. As well as working with them on their debt we encourage our clients to become less isolated by coming to our social events and joining in with what is going on in the community. As one client put it, ‘I don’t feel alone anymore.’ The transformation is well expressed by the client who said, ‘I’m now in a place where, for once, I’m pretty confident that I’m not gonna attempt to kill myself again.’

How you can help.

All the money raised will be used to fund the salary of a debt coach so that this service will continue supporting people locally in Weymouth and Portland. We want to see our debt centre helping people  for as long as it is needed, so that many more people can go debt free and find hope again. 

This appeal is supported by the Aviva Community Fund. During the six week period, each donation is matched by Aviva up to a maximum of £250. So if you donate £20 Aviva matches your donation with another £20. If you donate £250, Aviva matches it with another £250; if you donate £500, Aviva will only match it with £250. Please note: this applies to only one donation per individual donor from their bank account and there is an optional Crowdfunder tip. 

If our £12K initial target is exceeded, we will use the extra funds to invest in training, marketing and promotion of the CAP service.

Thank you from all the CAP Team and the Refresh Trustees.