New report reveals almost a quarter of UK adults have turned to local Christian organisations for help, or know someone who has.
UK debt charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has launched a £300,000 Christmas Appeal to help local churches provide emergency food aid to families in need this Christmas and long term support to help them out of debt and poverty.
Many local churches are feeling the pressure as demand for support rises sharply and they need more resources. New figures released by CAP show that churches and Christian organisations are becoming a crucial safety net, offering everything from emergency food shops and help back into work to energy top-ups and free debt advice.
Christians providing vital help: Around 12.5 million (23%) UK adults report that they, a family member, or a friend has received support from a local church or Christian organisation within the last 5 years.
Over half of the UK believes local Church support is crucial right now: Around 35 million (65%) UK adults say they think that churches and Christian organisations will play an important role in providing support for families and individuals who are struggling in the next 12 months.
Young people particularly connected to Church support: Around half (49%) of 18–34 year olds report that they, a family member, or a friend has received support from a local church or Christian organisation within the last 5 years. 73% think that they will play an important role in providing support in the next year.
Jade is a mum who fell into spiralling debts as a result of a relationship breakdown and rising costs of essentials:
“I was struggling to afford warm, nutritious meals to fill my kids tummies. I always made sure they had something to eat, but sometimes this meant going without food myself.
I did what any parent would do and made sure my children didn’t go hungry.
“I tried to pay towards the bills each month, and only buy things I urgently needed.
“Sitting on my daughter’s bed with Christmas fast approaching, I thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore’. I knew I couldn’t get out of debt on my own.”
Jade reached out to Christians Against Poverty for support:
“I’m so grateful that when me and my children were at our lowest point, my local Christians Against Poverty debt coach, Ben, and the people at Holy Trinity Church could step in. They walked alongside me as I got out of debt, and it started with an emergency food shop.
“They gave me the dignity to do my own food shop and provide what my children needed, without judgement. Being able to pick up fresh fruit and vegetables for the kids meant I was able to plan proper meals for the week, knowing my children could have hot, healthy food to fuel their bodies.
Without this lifeline, I don’t know what I would have done.
“Now I’m debt free, the future looks bright for my family. My children are happier, and they’re doing really well at school. I know it’s because their tummies are full and they don’t have to worry about their mummy anymore.”
CAP is asking people to help prevent parents and their kids from going hungry this Christmas by donating online. Donations will be used to provide emergency food shops for families most in need and also long term face to face support to help them out of debt and poverty.
Ben Warrender, a local CAP Debt Centre Manager, supported Jade and her family kids to become debt free and is continuing to support other families: “Many of the people we’re helping are in so much need and poverty that their main focus is simply keeping their family warm and fed this Christmas. Due to high costs of essentials, many households face difficult choices again this winter between keeping warm, putting food on the table or falling into spiralling debts.
“Churches across the UK are stepping in to help, providing vital face to face support, like CAP’s emergency food shops, and longer-term solutions such as free debt advice. Many families are being helped to break free from the chains of debt but the need is huge and our resources can only stretch so far without more financial support from kind people with a passion to help families in their communities and stop poverty.
“By donating to CAP’s Christmas appeal, you can provide a lifeline and hope to families, like Jade’s family, facing the most difficult and vulnerable situations this Christmas time.”
