Churches combine to end poverty
TWO churches are working together to help those in need of food and work in their community.
Members of Temple Baptist Church and St Catherine’s Church in Pontypridd partnered up with debt charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) in 2013.
They are working together to try and meet the needs of the town’s most vulnerable by setting up a CAP Debt Centre, Job Club and Release Group.
The team are working with people with addictive behaviour and are offering a Life Skills course to give help to those on low incomes.
Last year, the CAP Debt Centre dealt with £669,750 of debt and visited 48 people in their homes.
They also saw 12 clients become debt free with the rest progressing on the same path.
They are now preparing to launch the services again in January.
Reverend Peter Lewis, who runs the CAP job club, said: “We were looking for a way to help our community.
“After we met with Christians Against Poverty, they offered us four ways to tackle poverty.
“Since then we’ve seen people’s lives being set free of addiction, suicidal feelings gone, homes prevented from being repossessed, courts changing their rulings.
“We want to see the impact of this work continue to grow and for vulnerable people to find the support they need.”
Over the last two years the CAP Job Club has supported 117 people seeking employment.
During this time 21 people have found employment and a further 29 people have found volunteering work or have started a training course.
The CAP Release Group and CAP Life Skills groups work with smaller groups and have supported 14 people through the programmes and into new hope.
All four services are starting up again later this month with Life Skills beginning on Friday, January 26 at 1pm at Temple Baptist Church on Gelliwastad Road.
The Job Club will begin on January 25 at 10am at St Catherine’s Church, with the Release Group starting the following week on January 31 at 7pm at the same venue.
To register for one of the eight week courses, call Liz on 07398 902947 or email liz.pontypriddcommunity@gmail.com
For anyone who needs help with their debts call CAP’s national freephone number 0800 3280006 or visit capuk.org
CAP’s services are available to everyone regardless of age, gender, faith or background.