Debt counselling charity launches across Northern Ireland
An award-winning Christian debt counselling charity has launched its free service across Northern Ireland following a national launch event held at Stormont on 10 November.
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) which currently has 107 centres in England, Scotland and
Wales, has supplemented its pilot Belfast East Centre by opening four more in Northern Ireland following the launch hosted by Councillor Naomi Long MLA, Lord Mayor of Belfast.
The charity, which operates through a growing network of church-based debt counselling centres, has seen huge demand for its Belfast East Centre. In response, four more local churches are opening CAP centres in Belfast North and Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, Dungannon and Lurgan and District.
With all five centres operational, nearly half of Northern Ireland’s population now falls in the catchment area for CAP’s centres, meaning that nearly one million people in Northern Ireland have access to the charity’s services.
Debt is an ever-increasing problem, with the average household debt currently standing at nearly £10,000 (not including mortgages). One in nine households are struggling with unmanageable debt and 12 million Brits (25%) are currently struggling to cope with their monthly bills, according to Credit Action.
If you are struggling with debt you can contact CAP on 0800 328 0006 or visit www.capuk.org
Photo: L-R: Brian Givans (CAP Centre Manager, Belfast North & Newtonabbey), Jim Fleming (CAP Centre Manager, Belfast East), Jacqueline Robb (CAP Centre Manager, Carrickfergus), Matt Barlow (Chief Executive, CAP), Naomi Long (MLA and Lord Mayor of Belfast), Will MacLaughlin (CAP Centre Manager, Dungannon), Basil O'Malley (CAP Centre Manager, Lurgan)
