'Too many in debt' to help
A debt counselling charity says it is dealing with so many families struggling with financial woes that it is having to turn people away
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) was launched in Leicestershire in 2009, in Woodgate, Leicester.
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It has so far helped 232 families cope with debt.
Since it started, the office, run by Wendy and David Parkinson, has had a three-months waiting list.
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In the past few years, other centres have opened in Wigston, Ashby and Narborough and all are similarly busy.
Wendy said: "We're all fully booked and we have to refuse people help all the time.
"We work by visiting people in their homes and then helping them all we can.
"These are not just people on benefits. Often, they've lost their jobs or become ill.
"Most have relationship breakdowns and some are living in terrible situations.
"Some have no food in the house and one woman I met had no heating on.
"She lived in her hat and gloves under two duvets when it was cold."
As well as taking control of clients' finances to help them budget and pay off their debts, the charity's work includes going to court hearings with people when utility companies pursue them for non-payment.
The charity transformed the life of Humberstone pensioner Gordon Collins, who has spent most of his adult life in debt.
He is due to be free of debt in October, after 18 months working with the charity.
He said: "I've always been weak-willed and borrowing money all the time but it really drags me down.
"Looking back, it wasn't even to buy anything in particular, I'm just bad at rationing
"It's taken me 70 years to get here but CAP has done an amazing job.
"For anyone who hasn't been in this situation it's hard to explain how liberating it feels to know I'll soon be free of debt.
"I won't have to end my life owing money."
For more information, call CAP on 0800 328 0006.
Comments
by llamalamb
Thursday, February 07 2013, 5:49PM
“Mrs Thatcher always used to say how hard it was for people on " fixed incomes " .......presumably Tories have a flexible income and would therefore never get into debt.
This debt situation is only going to get worse, the current government have no capacity to care about the poor or vulnerable.”