Beyond the beach: the hidden reality of rural poverty

I’m Andrew, and I’ve lived in the South West of England for many years. It’s obvious why Cornwall is one of the UK’s top coastal tourist destinations, but behind its stunning coastline and unique natural beauty, whole communities are being pushed further and further into extreme hardship.

Poverty in Cornwall is mostly hidden, but the deprivation is shocking. The towns that run down the centre were once prosperous with markets, and tin and copper mining – now, it’s where most of the poverty is.

Because Cornwall relies heavily on tourism, work is seasonal, with typically low-paid jobs. Housing is marketed mainly at tourists, meaning prices have become unaffordable for many locals, forcing them to move inland or away completely.

With fewer people living here all year round, amenities and services decrease in the off-seasons. Everything shuts down. Public transport – which is essential for many who don’t drive or own a car, but isn’t great at the best of times – is reduced, which impacts those relying on buses to get to work.

Problems like these are shared by many rural, tourist-centric areas across the UK. Add in the fact that communities shrink down to a fraction of the size they were in summer, and rural poverty goes beyond just financial difficulties: it’s also extremely isolating.

Melissa is one of a group of brilliant CAP Debt Coaches in the South East of Cornwall, and I wanted to share her experience of tackling poverty in the area.

Melissa grew up in the area, so she’s seen first-hand how poverty in Cornwall is preventing so many people from living the life God wants for them. Together with her church, she’s committed to standing in the gap, bringing God’s love and hope all year round.

‘My debt centre covers a large geographical area,’ says Melissa, ​‘and I work with 13 churches, many of which are small and remote, with limited resources. This means it’s crucial that we’re united in our mission to serve our local community.’

‘With every church doing their bit, from running toddler groups to food banks, the local church is showing that they care. Even if two churches run the same type of group, that might be two days that a family isn’t lonely.’

Working with several churches across a large area means there are volunteers available to help Melissa wherever she goes. No matter how far she has to travel to visit those in need of debt help, she can bring a local befriender with her who can welcome the client into their church community, guaranteeing they’re well supported.

Melissa’s own church community is more supportive than ever, having seen the difference the local church is making. One person in particular provides extra special support: her mum.

No day looks the same for Melissa. Some days, she’s visiting people who live in the middle of nowhere, figuring out how best to work with them when their lack of access to the internet or a phone limits communication options:

Other days, she’s at one of her regular meetings with two community hubs, social workers and eight schools in her region, making sure more and more people who need debt help and holistic support can access it.

Melissa, along with her fellow Debt Coaches, gets to see how God is transforming lives as they tackle poverty in Cornwall every day. And although thousands of people become debt free every year through CAP, for Melissa, it’s always been about each individual. She says:

‘Even when I’m not working, I’m always thinking about and praying for those I’m supporting.’

‘One of the people I helped become debt free told me that working with CAP helped them open up to their parents about their debt – and it turned out that their parents wanted to pay off their debts for them. That was such a beautiful moment. It’s moments like these that make it all worthwhile.’

And that’s just it. One life at a time, experiencing hope again. Finding a community that’s consistent, full of love and compassion, and knowing that no matter what happens, they’re not alone.

I’d love to see 100% of Cornwall covered by CAP’s debt service. There are pockets of coverage missing, although we’re at more than 90%, which is incredible. We must keep growing to make sure we can help those people who can’t yet access the support they need.

And we’d love to bring more of CAP’s services, such as money coaching, to the area too. Debt is just one part of the problem of poverty in Cornwall, and we’re in such a great position to see the whole region transformed by the love of God in action.

God, thank you for the staff, volunteers and local churches delivering CAP’s services, and for their dedication to serving their local communities every single day. May they see the direct impact of their love and support, and know that you are blessing them every step of the way. Amen.