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Christians Against Poverty have teamed up with none other than Milton Jones and Rend Collective to bring you a night filled with laughter, worship and celebration! We’ll be telling you about our work with churches around the UK and also how you can get involved. And, of course, we’ll be having lots of fun! As Paula, our CEO, says, ‘At CAP, fun and celebration are very much key parts of what we do. And that’s important because we deal with some really serious issues.’

Join us from the comfort of your own home, with your drinks and snacks at the ready! We’d love to see as many of you there as possible. 

Use this link to join in the fun! Why not make the most of it and share it with your friends and family via Zoom?

Our brand new client report, Is anyone listening? is now available to download.

Debt left Jude feeling alone and unheard. Having suffered a stroke which left her with cognitive impairment, and going through a relationship breakdown shortly after, her finances began to spiral. Unable to get her head around what she owed, Jude started to dread the postman. She couldn't face her debt situation and started to hide the letters. 

Sadly, Jude’s story is not a one-off case. Thousands of people across the UK are struggling in problem debt, battling with other difficulties such as ill health, relationship breakdown or job loss.  

Yet in 2019, CAP helped 22,778 adults and children (inclusive of those interacting with more than one CAP service) to change their story. We celebrated with over two thousand households who became debt free and helped many more along the journey. 

Download Is anyone listening? now to hear the rest of Jude's inspiring story and discover the true impact of CAP’s Debt Help service, Life Skills groups, Job Clubs and Fresh Start groups across the UK.

Nicola Sturgeon MSP
First Minister of Scotland
The Scottish Government
St Andrew’s House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH3 3DG

16th April 2020

Dear First Minister (cc Cabinet Secretary Communities, Cabinet Secretary Finance)

We are writing to you as leaders of Scottish Christian charities to offer our support to you and stand with the Scottish Government at this time.

Our organisations and networks across Scotland are used to stepping up and finding solutions, creating community, and inspiring and resourcing people to act compassionately. Right now, in the most difficult of times, we are doing what Jesus told us to do: to love our neighbour. We very much appreciated your Easter message at the weekend acknowledging some of this work.

The Church has an army of highly motivated and experienced volunteers, on the ground in our cities, towns and villages. Equipped by our charities they are currently:

• Helping communities manage their money and deal with personal debt 
• Informing and supporting those needing government help
• Delivering food parcels to vulnerable people
• Ensuring children in poverty are prioritised
• Supporting people in recovery from addictions  
• Positively intervening in homelessness and rough sleeping 
• Building communities and supporting families 
• Providing befriending and support to prison leavers  
• Reaching those who are not online and ensure they are cared for
• Helping people stay healthy and positive, especially those with poor mental health
• Connecting those who want to give and volunteer with those in need
• Bringing hope and addressing loneliness at a very local level

We are working locally in communities across Scotland and we stand ready to work strategically in partnership with the Scottish Government and agencies at every level to ensure the best possible national response at this time. Please let us know how we can best work with the Scottish Government to direct our specialist resources and volunteer networks to most effective use.

We also recognise that we will need to increasingly work together in the coming months as the country begins to face the reality of a significant economic downturn, when charities and the Church will be more needed than ever. We ourselves will not be immune to this downturn and anticipate reductions in our own income, as across the whole charity sector.

We are committed for the long haul, but with this changing landscape we will also need the Scottish Government to stand with us in the coming months – not for our own sake but for those we serve – to ensure this valuable work can meet the growing need of the coming months and years. We are grateful for the steps the Scottish Government has already taken to support the sector and we look forward to positive engagement over the coming months as we work together for the benefit of Scotland.

Thank you for your leadership and be assured of our prayers for you and the Scottish Government at this time.

Yours sincerely,

Fred Drummond, Director, Evangelical Alliance Scotland, Chair, Serve Scotland
Emma Jackson, National Director, Christians Against Poverty, Scotland
Alasdair Bennett, CEO, Bethany Christian Trust
Charles Maatz, CEO, Glasgow City Mission
Duncan Cuthill, CEO, Edinburgh City Mission
James Campbell, CEO, Blythswood Care
Jo Mcilwaine, Scotland Programmes Leader, TLG
Diane McWilliams, Scotland Advisor, Cinnamon Network
Graeme McMeekin, Scottish Director, Tearfund Scotland
Dez Johnston, Scottish Director, Alpha Scotland
Jennifer Cornfield, Director, Soul Food Edinburgh
Viv Dickenson, CEO, CrossReach

For press enquiries relating to this letter, please visit our press and PR page here

The Rt Hon. Boris Johnson MP
Prime Minister 
10 Downing Street
London 
SW1A 2AA 

6 April 2020

Dear Prime Minister,

We would like to start by thanking you for all you are doing to lead this nation through this unprecedented situation and for the incredible efforts you have made to keep us in touch with your plans.

Our world is in the thick of a crisis like no other; our families, our society, our economy are being challenged in previously unimaginable ways.  

Thankfully, this country has a resource which is used to stepping up, supporting and finding solutions. This resource is the Church: a body of people who know all about compassionately supporting people in their communities and inspiring others to do the same. 

Working hard alongside the churches are a myriad of Christian charities who exist to equip and support the Church as they look after those around them. Right now, in the most difficult of times, we are doing what Jesus told us to do: to love our neighbour.

The Church is an unequalled army of highly motivated and experienced volunteers, on the ground in every city, town and village. Equipped by the charities we represent, we see them:

• Help people manage their money and deal with personal debt 
• Inform and support those needing government help
• Deliver food parcels to vulnerable people
• Ensure children in poverty are prioritised
• Reach those who are not online and ensure they are cared for
• Help people stay healthy and positive, especially those with poor mental health
• Connect those who want to give and volunteer with those in need
• Bring hope and address loneliness at a very local level
• Assist in safeguarding some of society's most vulnerable children
• Send support to and stand in solidarity with communities living in extreme poverty around the world. 

We know that a future economic downturn will mean that our care will be needed more than ever. The challenge is seeing our income plummet at the same time as circumstances dictate we step up, which diminishes our ability to support local churches in doing what they do best. 

We appreciate the ways the Chancellor has helped families and businesses in this time of crisis and urgently ask that the same support may be found for the vital work of the charitable sector and the Church, as we continue to do all we can.

Yours sincerely,

Amanda Bindon and Mike Royal, Cinnamon Network
Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, Christian Aid
Andy Hawthorne, The Message Trust
Catherine Healey, ACET International
Eustace Constance, Ascension Trust
Heather Keates, Community Money Advice
Henrietta Blyth, Open Doors UK & Ireland
Justin Humphreys, Thirtyone:eight
Karina Martin, Welcome Churches
Kat Osborn, Safe Families
Mark Heasman, Christian Camping International
Mark Sheard, World Vision
Martin Charlesworth, Jubilee+
Patrick Regan, Kintsugi Hope
Paula Stringer, Christians Against Poverty UK
Peter Lynas, Evangelical Alliance
Roger Sutton, Gather Network
Stewart McCulloch, Stewardship
Tim Morfin, Transforming Lives for Good
Tom Jackson, Resurgo

CC
The Rt Hon. Rishi Sunak MP
The Rt Hon. Oliver Dowden CBE MP

For press enquiries relating to this letter, please visit our press and PR page here

The Flipping Marvellous Pancake Party is back for a third year! Last year was a huge success, resulting in over £18,000 raised to see families across the UK released from the grip of poverty.

We’d love to see as many people as possible hosting a Pancake Party on or around Shrove Tuesday (25 February). These events are designed to be fun and relaxed but, as last year showed, they can have an enormous impact. Every pancake tucked into helps to bring freedom and hope to those most in need. Funds raised will enable local churches to continue their truly life-changing work, in partnership with CAP.

Those interested in hosting a Pancake Party are invited to tailor their event as necessary. Campaign Manager Naomi Dunn says, 'Whether you choose to bring people in the community together in your church hall, have a get-together with a few friends in your living room, or host a breaktime brunch in your office kitchen, your Pancake Party could be the recipe to a family’s future looking bright again.'

Find out more and order your free Pancake Party pack today.