Church charity will bring cheer to families struggling with debt

Local churches are preparing Christmas hampers for more than 20 individuals and families throughout Highland Perthshire.

Members of several congregations in the area have been busy gathering festive food and gifts for the families being helped by the CAP Debt Centre, run in partnership with UK charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP).

Rev Neil Glover, from Aberfeldy Parish Church – where the local CAP group is based – said: “It has been a real community operation to get everything ready.

“We’ve had people donating money and goods, shopping, gift wrapping and packing boxes,” he said.

“People of all ages have been involved in this wonderful effort which has been great fun and we’ll be working on the distribution to make sure everyone on our list gets the essentials and a few treats and gifts as well.”

In the past year, the CAP Highland Perthshire Debt Centre has helped 19 families, all of whom were struggling to pay their creditors.

The centre opened its doors in January 2014.

Centre manager Angela Hanvey said: “Unless you’ve been there yourself, or you’ve known someone close in crisis debt, it’s hard to describe just how difficult it can be.

“Debt rarely comes along by itself. It’s often accompanied with a loss of job, health problems, relationship breakdown along with no heating or no food, depression and isolation.”

She said: It can be a long road to recovery but our hope is these hampers will help our clients to feel encouraged along their journey to debt freedom.”