An interview with Christians Against Poverty’s Founder and International Director,
John Kirkby.
It all started back in 1996. One man with just a few pounds and a calling from God to help the poor and needy out of financial ruin. Now, 15 years later, it’s the same man, the same calling, but with an award-winning charity that has helped around 40,000 people suffering under the burden of overwhelming debt through its 150 branches across the UK.
In its 15th year celebrations, The Plain Truth caught up with John Kirkby (CAP’s founder) to ask how he was going to celebrate this milestone in the life of his charity. And, of course, to find out how CAP has been transforming lives too.
Q: When you started with your vision of helping the poor and needy in your home town of Bradford, did you ever envisage that 15 years later you would be a leading debt counselling, award-winning charity with 150 branches?
At first it was a very day-to-day existence. We were literally waiting for the mail each day, but early on we saw evidence that God wanted us to grow despite the little resources we had and we leaned on him very hard. Fifteen years on, we are leaning even harder – seeing miracle after miracle of his provision for this charity as we grow to meet the need. Our goal is to have a centre in every town and city in the UK by 2015, so we have a huge task ahead. Still there are times when we get a call and, because we have no partner church in that area, we have to post them a self-help pack. That is heartbreaking! Sending paper is a poor substitute to sending a person.
Q: So what has enabled such tremendous growth over the last 15 years?
We knew we were offering something unique, giving the best service to the very poorest and most desperate people when they needed it. But we were under the radar for many years, just plugging away where we could. Now we’re listed among the UK’s leading debt counselling organisations – a great witness and a huge encouragement to our supporters. It’s a real ‘loaves and fishes’ ministry: we give what we can in terms of effort, finance and God-given talent and he makes up the rest. It’s his charity and he doesn’t order what he can’t pay for.
Q: It’s very evident that you have a strong Christian basis upon which you operate. You say the service you provide is ‘not just for Christians’ – but do you expect those you help to start attending church or making a Christian commitment in their lives?
We make no apologies for being a Christian organisation. We offer to pray with clients on the first visit and the vast majority are happy to accept and tell us it brings them a very welcome peace amid the turmoil. If someone says they don’t want the Christian side of things they get all the free debt counselling just the same. But we find many people want to know what drives us to do what we do, in the way we do it, and the Gospel comes in very naturally. That’s why we see hundreds come to Christ every year.
Q: Your debt counselling/management service is free – but obviously doesn’t come without cost. Who funds your organisation, and would you expect those who you help, to pay for your service once they were in a more financially-secure position?
The vast majority of our funding comes from our ever-growing army of supporters – individuals and churches – who want to help people during these tough financial times. Trust funds bring us another chunk of funding and we ask the credit industry to support us too. Some of our clients donate a small and manageable amount – and many find a dignity in doing so – but we emphasis this is a FREE service and the charity has no expectations or requirements for clients to make a donation.
Q: It would appear that debt is now an escalating problem – with few being immune. How deeply affected are people seeking your help? (And are many actually feeling suicidal?)
Our most recent questionnaire suggests more than a third of our clients were seriously considering suicide as a way out of their debt problems. Typically they felt isolated, out of their depth, under siege from creditors, despairing and fearful.
The case of Emma, Phil and their family is a very ‘typical’ story of many of the people we are able to help.
Q: And finally, can you tell us briefly about how you personally plan to celebrate your 15th Anniversary?
Well, we have lots to be thankful for – as well as a lot more to do.
We have some major birthday celebrations for anyone who’d like to come along. One is in Peterborough on 25 June and one in Huddersfield on 2 July. Tickets are available from our special 15th anniversary website (below).
I’m also hoping to raise CAP’s profile further by running 15 marathons in 15 days (plus a couple of days for travel). I plan to do five in the UK, five in Australia and five in New Zealand.
Get your FREE Guide
It is a recognised fact that there is also a very real connection between debt and mental health. CAP helped their money-saving expert friend Martin Lewis and his team write a special guide to address this issue. In his intro to the guide, Lewis writes: ‘Mental health problems can cause severe debt and severe debt can cause mental health problems.’
Available online, The Guide to Mental Health & Debt is a free, 40-page, easy-to-read booklet giving practical ‘how to’ advice, guidance and support in dealing with debt for both individuals and carers. The comprehensive appendix lists numerous organisations and charities offering help and advice for those with mental health problems and facing debt problems. There is also a very helpful ‘Money Saving Checklist’ too. You can download your FREE copy of The Guide to Mental Health & Debt at: http://images.moneysavingexpert.com/images/attachment/mentalhealthguide.pdf
Further info: If you are struggling alone under the burden of debt and need help, you can contact CAP on Freephone 0800 328 0006. If you would like to support CAP or find out what it takes to get a centre up and running with your church call 01274 760720 or via their website: www.capuk.org
If you would like to sponsor John in his ‘15 Marathons’ venture, then please visit www.cap15.org
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