The start of January can be a difficult time for those living in debt - all the 'New Year, New You' messages can fall flat when you are worrying how to pay the next bill or heat the house in this winter weather. There is a lot of fantastic support over Christmas, with extra Foodbank sessions, community Christmas meals etc., but once the bills start coming in combined with the long wait to the January paycheck or benefits payment things can look bleak. Matthew 8: 28 - 29 (NIV)

Christmas can be a busy and stressful time, struggling to buy presents and bring the family together for a meal. It can be a lonely time, looking out the window at the Christmas lights sitting alone in an unheated house that doesn't feel like a home anymore. It can be a difficult time for those struggling with addictions, just one more drink to get through or another deal on the shopping channels that can't be resisted. It can be putting a smile on and a Christmas jumper to t

Advent is a time of waiting and preparation and many of our CAP clients are waiting too. Some for their first visits to be able to begin their CAP journey. Some preparing the documentation they need for their second Fact Find visit, some waiting for their debt solution and preparing for the potentially difficult decisions that they will have to make. Some waiting for a Debt Relief Order (DRO) to come through or patiently paying into a CAP repayment plan to become debt free. A

Within the busyness of preparation for Christmas, preparation for the celebration of the arrival of our King, Advent is a time for reflection, to look back to the time when Jesus came as a baby and lived a human life, and to look forward to when He will come again. We are living in a time between these two events, when we know the love of Christ in our lives and can see His Kingdom at work around us and within us, but when we also know that the fullness of the Kingdom has not

Life can be a rollercoaster with many ups and downs, twists and turns, challenges, exhilaration and times of calm. In the beatitudes can be found something for every season and emotion of life. For many of our Ely and District CAP clients, the struggle with debt is just part of a difficult time in life with many challenges and uphill work, not just practically, but physically, mentally and spiritually as well. But the beatitudes bless the Poor in Spirit. Matthew 5: 3 - 4 (NIV

It seems that Christmas gets earlier every year, with the Christmas ads already launched, mince pies and Slade in the shops and Christmas decorations going up in towns and houses. It can be a magical time, full of family, joy and laughter like we see in the adverts, but it can also be a lonely time or a struggle to meet up to perceived expectations. 59% of CAP clients have had to borrow money for their regular food shop, and this is without the extras for Christmas, the incre

Sometimes for our debt coaches, visit team and clients, the journey out of debt can seem long and difficult, waiting for a DRO to be processed or juggling a limited budget to make ends meet. It can be hard for our clients to welcome the team into their home and their lives, and hard for the team to see the struggles they are going through, but it is a privilege to be invited in and help the clients through the debt free process, but also to know that they are worth more than

This week is Talk Money Week , and CAP are highlighting their latest ‘ Picture of Poverty ’ report which shows that nearly a quarter (23%) of adults in the East of England have daily anxiety about their finances. Further insights indicate that people who are struggling with debt and money management are not just looking for financial help, but also personal connection. CAP’s Picture of Poverty report reveals that when thinking about their current financial situation, 15% of a

It can be hard to be patient in life, and especially in the face of suffering - modern life can be fast paced and we want a quick fix, to solve it now and move on. For our Ely and District CAP clients (and our debt coaches!) the wait while the busy head office team puts a debt solution into practice can seem long and frustrating, but it is wonderful when the message of debt freedom comes through. This time may seem longer than we may like, but it is also valuable time, time t

This week CAP released their new Picture of Poverty report. It shockingly reveals that nearly 1 in 5 adults are in problem debt, which is almost twice as many as two years ago. Furthermore, 1 in 4 of those with children are in such trouble, and 1 in 3 adults are severely stressed about their finances. Poverty is deepening; in the last five years, inflation has risen by 35%, and even more for essentials. However, the income of the bottom 20% of earners, typical of our clients,

For many of our Ely and District CAP clients, the burden of debt can be a heavy weight of worry and stress, something that may be hidden from loved ones or even tried to hide from themselves. Realising that help is needed and reaching out and asking for help can be a big step, but is a big step forward. Psalm 32: 1 - 2 (NIV) 1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count agains

With just a few paydays left before the 25th December, many of us are already thinking about Christmas. For some, this can be a really...

Scripture is one of the best ways we can get to know God, but there are a lot of other pointers to who He is and what He can mean in our...

In times of darkness and struggle it can be hard to admit their is a problem, to our family and friends and even to ourselves. We try to...

In dark times, it can be difficult to know who to turn to and what to ask for, but in Jesus we have someone who we can tell anything at...

With the end of the school holidays, the beginning of September can be a time of transition for many, starting a new school or going to...

It can be difficult to see God in difficult times, to deny His presence or believe that He has turned away. In the psalms, the writers...

What we often see in the news can seem to highlight the different, the other - migrant protests, wars, racial or gender discrimination,...

In our society, the emphasis is very much on doing your own thing, living the dream, being true to yourself - all self-focused and...

The summer holidays can be a stressful time for many of our Ely and District CAP clients, juggling entertaining the children on a small...