New church connected debt counselling service to launch in Chorley

The free service is being offered by St Laurence's Church, Union Street, in the town centre.

The church has partnered with an award-winning charity to set up the scheme.

St Laurence's and other church congregations say they are concerned with the financial hardships being suffered by their local communities.

Wanting to help folk living with the pressure of debt they have teamed with UK debt counselling charity, Bradford-based Christians Against Poverty (CAP).

CAP is fighting to reduce UK poverty by delivering debt counselling, money management, job clubs and support for people breaking addictions.

It only works through the church - a total of more than 580 - and makes its services available to all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Now following a fundraising campaign, the new Chorley service is set to open on Monday.

Father. Neil, Rector of St. Laurence’s, said: “Debt stress can be so destructive.

"It affects family relationships, health and can be very isolating.

"As a compassionate community, we wanted to provide people with a route out of debt and CAP is distinct because it does that in partnership with the church.

“Sometimes people feel they have made mistakes but very often they’ve been driven into debt by suffering from job loss, relationship breakdown or coping with illness in

the family or a bereavement – situations that are often difficult, emotional and have a financial impact.

“We’re now in the process of putting a dedicated debt centre manager and key members of our church through training with CAP to offer a face-to-face, tried-and- tested professional service which will see people escape that debt trap and get their lives back on track.”

CAP has around 300 church-based debt help centres across the UK offering a free service to help people out of debt.

TV’s Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has described CAP as “unsurpassed” in its in-depth service which encourages and supports each household to repay what they

owe - or go through an insolvency - until the day they are debt free.