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Share your experiences

Several faces of former clients, CAP staff and church leaders, making up a big mosaic.
Used a CAP service? You can share your story and join our supportive community 

Your lived experience of debt and poverty is a vital part of tackling poverty in the UK, creating a society where everyone can have life to the full.

Whether it’s sharing your story to raise awareness of debt and poverty, joining a panel to help improve our services, or featuring in a fundraising campaign to raise vital funds to help even more people, your voice is crucial in the fight against UK poverty.

Please note: This opportunity is specifically for former clients or anyone who has used a CAP service in the past.

Ways you can share your experiences:

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Write a blog

By writing a lived experience blog, your inspiring story shows others that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Get involved in a fundraising campaign

Inspire supporters by sharing your journey. Your story could lead our next fundraising campaign across video, social media, website and print.

Icon of a computer screen with a play button.

Feature in the media

Share your experiences of debt and poverty-related issues and promote the work of CAP. Feature in a news article, on the radio or on TV.

Join our panel

Work with CAP on a regular basis to share your experience, and have your say towards a variety of topics – for example, improving CAP’s debt help service.

Be part of a project

Be part of the decision-making process for short-term or one-off projects, such as user testing our website, or developing new course materials.

Influence UK policy

Help us advocate for change. With our support, you can talk to external groups—from energy companies to MPs—about your experience and help build a better future.

We’d love to hear your experiences*

Click to fill in the contact form

Who will I be sharing my story with?

When you share your story with CAP, our supportive Communications team will be in touch with you. Whether you’d like to write a blog, be part of a press event, appeal or campaign with us, we’d love to help you share your story in a way that works for you.

CAP employee, Lydia, with dark brown hair, wearing a blue and white striped shirt and smiling at the camera

When you fill out this form, I’ll be in touch to arrange a call or Google Meet chat to:

  • Discuss your story and how you’re comfortable sharing it.
  • See if you’d like to get involved in future CAP projects or appeals.

Hearing how CAP has supported you is always a privilege!

Sharing your story can change lives! My job is to help you learn about the media world and support you to share on TV, radio, online and in newspapers and magazines. We will help you every step of the way and when people share their personal experience it’s often the reason others in desperate need reach out to CAP for help. We will always aim to find the right media opportunity for you.

Find our guide to sharing your story in the media

If you’d like to share your story as a blog on CAP’s website, I’d love to help you! Whether you want to write about the process of becoming debt free or discuss a topic you care about, your blog can help others feel less alone in their journey.

Read our lived experience blog here.

How we will support you in sharing your story

We know that sharing your journey can feel like a big step, but you don’t need to be an expert storyteller or have anything written down. We’re here to support you every step of the way, moving entirely at your pace.

We want to support you to share your story in the way that feels right to you:

  1. No pressure, just a chat: Think of it as a catch-up with a friend — no formalities needed. We can chat via phone, video call, or email. Whatever makes you feel most at home.
  2. You’re in control: Share only what you’re comfortable with. We will move at your pace, and you can pause, skip details, or stop at any time.
  3. We do the heavy lifting: You don’t have to be a writer or remember every single detail, we usually focus on how things felt and how you were affected. It’s just helpful for us to know the main message you’d like to get across and what you’d like to achieve by sharing.
  4. You get the final say: This is your story. We will send you drafts to review, and we won’t use it until you are 100% happy with it. 

Sharing your story, your way

One CAP storyteller explores how sharing her experience gave her a new found confidence, while knowing she was making a difference in the fight against UK poverty.

Storyteller: I’d like to tell you why telling your story with CAP is so important. When I was first starting to tell my story, I was worried, as I didn’t want my name or my face to be used. They completely understood, and my story was put out anonymously.

I have now had my story on the radio, which has helped spread the word of CAP. I’ve also been involved in panel sessions, helping CAP to work better, and giving my ideas on how CAP can change and make it easier for everyone to be able to access them.

I’ve found that telling my story to help CAP had not just helped them, but also helped me to see how far I’d come in my debt journey. If you’re thinking about doing your story or helping out on the panels, I’d say do it. It’s one of the best things you can do and will help you build your confidence.

CAP are supportive, kind and understanding, and they are so grateful to all of us who help. The more stories we share, the more people we can help get out of debt. Join us in making CAP the best debt agency. Thank you.

It’s very important to speak out. I have done several interviews for radio and TV news and I know I have helped others in sharing my story! CAP really did save my life and get me out of the darkest place. 

Julie, after sharing her experiences of debt and poverty in South Wales 

Frequently asked questions

Every story of lived experience is incredibly valuable, but this specific project is just for former clients or people who have used a CAP service. Our focus is on shaping and sharing the unique CAP journey, which means we need voices who have experienced our support firsthand.

Not at all. Your ongoing support or relationship with your local CAP centre or debt coach remains completely separate. Sharing your story is entirely optional and is just a wonderful way to help others if you feel ready to do so.

Yes! Our story-sharing opportunities include people who have used any CAP service Whether you attended a job club, a life skills group or money coaching workshop, your voice is incredibly valuable and we’d love to hear from you.

A friendly member of our Communications team will reach out to have a chat and get to know you better. We’ll chat through the kinds of things you’re comfortable with and see what might be a good fit.

Yes, absolutely. While it depends on the specific project or opportunity, we can often use a different name or keep your identity private if you have any concerns about sharing openly.

Yes, you are completely in control. We will ask you to fill out a consent form to let us know exactly where you are happy for your story to be shared (such as in an appeal, on our website, or on social media). We will also always check back in with you before using your story to make sure you’re still completely happy with it.

We’d love to hear your experiences*

Click to fill in the contact form

*By filling in the form, you’re letting us know you’re happy for someone from our Communications team to get in touch with you. While we might not always have an immediate project on the go, our friendly team will keep you in mind and reach out to support you in using your voice in the ways that best work for you.

If you are unable to fill in this form online, please email us on [email protected] or call Lydia, our Stories Researcher on 01274 760817.