What is the vision of your organisation?
We want to see a hope-filled society, free from poverty, with churches united to improve the lives of those facing debt and financial hardship.
Why has your organisation signed the ‘End Poverty Pledge’?
We have signed the pledge because it aligns with our vision to end poverty in the UK and all our work which aims to reduce the effects of financial hardship.
What examples can you give of your organisation putting the ‘End Poverty Pledge’ into practice?
We partner with local churches around the UK to deliver services to help those struggling with debt and financial hardship, such as debt centres, courses (money management, life skills) and job clubs. We estimate that we have helped over 35,000 people to become debt-free.
We are a Living Wage Employer.
We partner with other organisations, such as foodbanks and job centres, to offer debt support, budgeting skills and financial resilience to clients to improve their situations longer-term.
We involve people with lived experience in our work, including annual client surveys, client forums and storytellers. Our annual report is always written from the point of view of a client and how our support has made a difference to them.
We focus on community and bringing people around people because we know that this is the best way to help keep people debt-free.
We provide training for our frontline staff/volunteers, such as mental health and safeguarding training, as we are seeing an increase in levels of poverty and vulnerability.
We are part of a wider network of organisations that are campaigning for systemic change to help those in financial hardship, such as the 2-child limit being lifted and free debt relief order.
We have a positive approach to supporting service users that focuses on empowerment and taking responsibility to manage their debt and financial issues.
By going into people’s homes, we are supporting the most vulnerable, to access services that might otherwise be unavailable for them, such as due to digital exclusion.
What would you hope to be able to do more of in the longer term?
We would like to use the poverty awareness training resources for our staff and volunteers as part of our training programme.
We would like to encourage churches who are part of our programme to sign the ‘End Poverty Pledge’, consider signing up to become Living Wage Employers, involve people with lived experience and use the poverty awareness training resources.
Continue to explore relationships with Churches in Surrey where there are the highest levels of deprivation, to make connections and see if they are able to partner with us to provide CAP services.
Encourage Churches with financial resources to sponsor CAP services in areas where finances are more challenging.