Talk Money Week

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 adults in the East of England say they would find in-person debt advice helpful.

Financial anxiety is a real issue that our debt caches often come across when first meeting many of our clients. The immense pressure that unmanageable debt plays can be all-consuming and totally overwhelming. Thankfully, having the opportunity to talk about their finances in-person with a CAP debt coach or befriender can help ease their worries.

In CAP’s recent Client Report, No Time to Lose, respondents said that their local debt coach helped them by:

Helping with paperwork (54%)

Speaking to CAP’s central support hub on the client’s behalf (51%)

Providing practical help, e.g. food shops and fuel vouchers (38%)

Staying in contact by phone or text (45%)

Giving emotional support (42%)

Offering to pray with the client (62%)

Meeting our clients face-to-face makes it so much easier for them to open-up and share their struggles and this allows us to better gauge what their needs are. Our debt coaches and visit team walk alongside the people we support, and our friendly, non-judgmental approach means we can address a person’s wider needs beyond debt.

Many people who really need debt help often find it difficult to talk about their money worries and reach out for advice. So Talk Money Week aims to raise awareness and encourage people to get talking about money matters. Many people struggling with debt also struggle to talk about it, but starting a conversation can make a huge difference.

Psalm 116: 1 - 2 (NIV)

1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy.

2 Because he turned his ear to me,

I will call on him as long as I live.

In God, we have someone we can always talk to and be open with, who will listen to and understand our troubles and who provides strength and encouragement for the journey.

By listening, by being there and coming alongside someone who is burdened as our debt coaches do for our clients, we can help too and help to bring the knowledge of this love into their lives.

James 1: 19 (NIV)

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry

By being open and listening we can help someone talk about something that is difficult for them, we can better understand their concerns and be better able to help them - when we see someone struggle we can be the listening ear, starting a conversation that could help change their life.

Please pray for the work of the Ely and District CAP team to get the message of the help that CAP can bring to those in our community who are suffering with the burdens of debt and financial worry.

Pray especially for those who struggle to acknowledge their problems, who conceal debt from their family and friends and even from themselves and pray that there is someone who can be a listening ear for them and start them on a journey away from their burdens.

Pray for our debt coaches and visit team, for the love and support that they bring and especially for the seed of knowledge that there is someone who can provide support, strength and compassion for the journey out of debt and beyond.