Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a Christian charity founded in Bradford, West Yorkshire by John Kirkby in 1996. It is a national organisation specialising in Debt Counselling for people in financial difficulty, including those in need of bankruptcy or insolvency (click here for further details on our website). Other courses also offered by our church include Life Skills (click here for further details on our website) and Money Coaching (click here for further details on our website).
CAP works with the local churches to support people through their journey of debt and seeks to offer them emotional and spiritual support along the way, through linking them into local church communities where appropriate.
- Currently 10 people become debt free and 3 people become Christians each day through CAP’s nationwide support.
- More information about what CAP does can be found on their website by clicking here.
- See the inspirational videos of how CAP has changed lives on their website by clicking by clicking here
The Malvern Branch of CAP started in 2019 and later became the Malvern and Ledbury Branch. In addition to running the debt centre, we also offer the following CAP courses in Malvern and Ledbury.
- Life Skills – where you learn practical tools to help you live well on a low income every day (see more on what this course is about on the CAP website by clicking here ), and
- Money Coaching – which empowers you with knowledge, budgeting skills and confidence to better manage your finances (see more on what this course is about on the CAP website by clicking here).
CAP Malvern in 2025 – How can you be involved?
The last few years have been a considerable challenge for people in our communities of Malvern and Ledbury. With the prayer support and generosity from Christians across both towns, and with God’s blessing, we have seen positive impacts on peoples’ lives in so many ways. So please join us in celebrating: here are some of the highlights.
Freed from the Burden of Debt
Since we opened the Debt Centre in Malvern in April 2019 and in Ledbury in 2021, We’ve supported nearly 100 clients so far, with around 50 people who are on their journey to become debt free working with us at any one time. This journey may take 6 months to 6 years. Up to 15 clients go debt free each year, while others commit to sustainable budgeting plans.
Individual Support
However, the statistics only tell part of the story of the impact on individuals. The challenges faced by each household are unique and, in most cases, covering much more than debt. It has been a privilege to get to know them, to listen and pray with them and support their desire to tackle their debts. The debt coaches could not do all this without the amazing team of about 40 volunteer ‘Befrienders’ who get to know each client and walk alongside them during their process of becoming free of debt.
Practical Needs are being met
As part of our Centre, we have a so called ‘Blessing Team’ that works to meet many practical needs of our clients. Local businesses have also responded to our requests for help. This has included the supply of electrical appliances from DAR and Euronics in Malvern Link, and with other local individual businesses for PAT testing, electrical cooker installation etc. With government funding allocated to us by the District Council, we have been able to underwrite the costs of these white goods as well as support clients with a range of other one-off expenses. We also have many people offering contributions of other needed items including furniture, TV’s, etc. and these are offered to our CAP clients based on their needs. Also, where CAP clients require smaller household items, we have often been able to source these via the Malvern churches Sharing Pot Facebook group, from the Befrienders, from local charity partners (like Roundabout in Evesham) and from the wider Christian community in Malvern and Ledbury. We are so very grateful for the support of all those who have given to the ‘blessings’ as we try to share with our clients.
Recognising God at Work
While it is not a requirement to work with CAP that you are a Christian, or indeed of any faith – we try to work with anyone who asks for our help – we do offer to pray for and with our clients if they will accept this. We believe prayer helps and makes a difference! For many, this is their first experience of Christian prayer. Quite a few have acknowledged God’s hand at work in their lives since they started working with CAP. This is such a privilege and we have been delighted that a number have made a personal commitment to Jesus and are attending church.
Ledbury Debt Centre
Following a request from the churches of Ledbury in August 2021, a debt coach has been working an additional day serving clients in Ledbury within the framework of the LEAF initiative (click here for more details on their website). The local churches have been essential in building contacts with the referral agencies and in providing befrienders and supporters since the centre commenced.
Engaging on a Broader Stage
Malvern Hills District Council have actively sought a partnership with local agencies seeking to alleviate poverty and CAP Malvern has become an active partner of the local council’s work since it was launched. We continue to contribute regularly to this coordinated effort, alongside other agencies who operate in the District including the Malvern Food Bank, Citizen’s Advice, Age UK, Action for Children and many others, working in partnership to seek to meet the needs of our local community between us. We are glad to receive referrals for support from many agencies in the community and to connect our clients with others where their services can support their needs.
The Year Ahead
As we have been praying, we sense that 2025/26 is going to be another exciting year for CAP in Malvern and Ledbury. Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to meet all of the costs to date but currently run at a deficit each month of several hundred pounds. CAP Malvern and Ledbury are almost entirely supported by our donors and further funding is required to continue to operate and grow.
Our Vision
Our Vision is to have a 3rd debt coach by the end of 2025; The Centre Manager for Malvern and Ledbury is a Debt Coach alongside managing the centre and therefore looks after clients too. CAP’s Head Office suggest that these roles should be split, as it’s a significant task for one individual to do both roles. We would like to split these roles here in Malvern if we can. With the appointment of a 3rd Debt Coach, this will allow a separation of the Centre Manager and Debt Coach roles and will enable CAP Malvern and Ledbury to be more sustainable in the future.
Where Could You Be Involved?
CAP is such a great way to make a practical difference in our communities!
If you would like to know more about what we do or would like to get more involved we would love to hear from you. Could you be part of the team? Please do complete our contact form here on our sub-page or by clicking here.
- Prayer – there are monthly prayer meetings and a WhatsApp group [AL1] where prayers are posted. The debt coaches also place requests for prayer. There are regular half day retreats at the Well Spring retreat at Ledbury.
- Befriending – each client is offered the support of a volunteer Befriender. We provide training and support in this really significant part of the service that we offer.
- Blessings Team – this team offer practical help in response to requests for things such as electrical appliances, household goods, but also with sourcing second-hand items needed by our clients.
- Community Links Coordinator – The Debt Coaches maintain links with a range of local organisations and churches and would like to be able to improve on this and also to increase CAP’s presence on social and local media. Would you be able to offer a few hours a week to support us with this?
- Giving – to support the work of our CAP Debt Centre locally, or CAP nationally. You can donate to CAP Malvern and Ledbury directly through our giving page by clicking here.
If you know of anyone locally struggling with problem debt, please encourage them to call CAP’s freephone number 0800 328 0006 and CAP Head Office will put us in touch with them directly.
Thank you,
Denise Ditchburn
Debt Centre Manager
Christians Against Poverty Malvern and Ledbury Debt Centre