Project to offer advice and support on debt

Crieff Parish Church is the lead church in a new partnership with UK debt counselling charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP).

CAP helps those living with the pressure of debt, and in conjunction with the local church will be offering the free service in the Strath from September.

Chris McCrosson is the centre manager of the new Strathearn Debt Centre for CAP.

The debt coach said: “The last five years have seen a recent increase for CAP’s debt counselling services.

“CAP Strathearn will serve to bridge the gap across Central Scotland, adding to CAP’s other Debt Centres based in Aberfeldy, Perth, Stirling and Tillycoultry.”

Andrew Philip, minister at Crieff Parish Church, commented: “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 the local churches through training with CAP to offer a 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 which has until now involved home visits.

Due to Covid- 19, the usual face- to- face debt counselling service has been temporarily replaced with telephone based appointments.

For more information, call 0800 3280006.