CAP Update May 2020

Felixstowe Christian Action Against Poverty and Debt (FCAAPD)

CAP Debt Counselling

The great news is that, since we started, five of our clients have become debt free, and we have five more clients we are supporting on their journey to become debt free.

However, the last few months have been challenging times for us. First CAP Head Office made the very difficult decision to stop taking new clients in August so they could address the large backlog of cases and enquiries, review how they work and change to be less “work-driven” and more “God-driven”.

They resumed taking clients in February but within weeks home visit appointments with clients were stopped by the Government lockdown. CAP Head Office were able to quickly develop a new system for telephone appointments for existing clients and have recently resumed taking calls from NEW CLIENTS to arrange appointments. So, the GOOD NEWS is that we are back in business offering a full service, even if it has to be only by telephone for the time being.

CAP Money Course

Before Lockdown we had two CAP Money courses scheduled – 2 afternoon sessions at The Laydens, and 3 evening sessions at White Gables Care Home Stanley Road. Sadly, these have had to be postponed. The course at White Gables will be the 3rd course we have run there, many thanks to Alison for making us welcome and offering a non-church venue to encourage more attendees. We wanted to offer the afternoon sessions at The Laydens to hopefully attract mums, dads and carers who cannot get to our evening sessions.

We have also been working with Warren Hill Prison to run CAP Money Courses for prisoners about to be released. We have built a good relationship with the Warren Hill Prison staff and we were able to present the first session of the course in which five prisoners participated. Unfortunately, we were unable to deliver the second session because the lockdown had started.

We now have five CAP Money Course Coaches trained and we are looking forward to sharing with many people of Felixstowe ways to manage their money and budget better once normal service can be resumed. Some of the Money Coaches already offer one to one support at St Phillips, St Peters & Paul & Christchurch Pop Up Shops. If you know of anyone who would benefit from attending a CAP Money Course hold them in your prayers and contact your church representative or myself Carolyn Jones, St Marys Walton Representative, on 07900882582.

The Future

The Lockdown has left many people worried, anxious and struggling with debt and money concerns. The debt counselling service is now available so if you know of anyone in debt please encourage them to call CAP on 0800 328 0006. New dates for CAP Money Course courses will be on The CAP website with posters and information sent via church newsletters and e-mails.

Currently we need:

someone to train as a debt coach to work alongside Rick our debt centre manager and

more befrienders who can walk alongside a client on their path to become debt free and

a prayer coordinator

If you would like to know more about these opportunities please contact Steve Lineham steve.lineham@btinternet.com phone: 01394 672455

Prayer – please pray:

For the five Existing Clients, that they will continue to be able to live within their budget and work with CAP

For NEW Clients: that some of the many people in debt will have the confidence to make contact

For Rick (as Debt Coach): that he can understand and complete the necessary training to be able to competently guide clients through the radically changed interview processes required to enable them to work with CAP.

For the Befrienders: that they can continue to assist their existing clients and that we can find ways to link them up with clients who are having only telephone appointments.

For one existing male client who “Rick happened to meet” on the day lock-down was announced who asked Rick “How do I become a Christian?”. The following day (despite lock-down) his befriender and Rick visited him at home and had the privilege of witnessing him pray to ask Jesus into his life. He continues to grow, and says life is totally different.

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I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29 v 11.

Registered Charity Number 1175440