People finding faith – but UK poverty grim, says CAP

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) says it is seeing people come to personal faith in Jesus – against a backdrop of a stark poverty crisis in the UK.

In its just-published annual Client Report, the organisation reports that half of CAP clients have attempted or considered suicide; 56% have had to borrow money for food and clothing; 61% could not afford toiletries; two-thirds had fallen behind with one or more household bills; and half of the budgets devised for clients were unsustainable due to their low incomes.

But CAP’s Senior External Affairs Manager, Rachel Gregory told en that evangelicals are making a difference. She gave the example of Welcome Church in Woking, and explained: ‘The congregation runs a CAP Debt Centre, CAP Money courses, Life Skills courses and a job club. They hosted a ‘Cost of Living Crisis’ workshop recently and a record number attended. Many who attend CAP events want to know more about our faith after receiving help. We continue to see people come to know Jesus and have their lives completely transformed.’

The poverty situation in the UK remains shocking. Gregory said: ‘This isn’t a new problem, but the rapid rise in costs has made life so much more difficult for many families and individuals, and pulled many more into financial trouble, particularly those on the lowest incomes.

‘We need more support for those on the lowest incomes who are struggling to live and a long-term overhaul of the social security system to ensure it’s fit for purpose and provides everyone with a liveable income.’

She added: ‘Children are disproportionately likely to live in poverty. Four in ten children are in poverty in the UK. We know from experience that many parents go without food so they can make sure their children have enough to eat. That becomes particularly difficult in the school holidays and will be a worry for many with Summer coming up.

‘We want to equip local churches so that they can help to transform individual lives, and ultimately encourage positive change in government to see an end to poverty in the UK. Our strategy involves providing practical services that help individuals to break free from the chains of poverty and debt. Through campaigns such as encouraging people to check they are getting all the benefits they are entitled to, we are helping families to break free from poverty’s grip.’