The Bath Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre has been awarded £56,000 in National Lottery Funding to support its work over the next three years.
The centre is based in Manvers Street Baptist Church in Bath, and aims to free people from the misery of debt.
The debt centre will use the cash to maintain staffing and to provide further support to a greater number of clients throughout the city and surrounding area.
CAP Bath has been running since 2015 and is staffed by 2 part-time members of staff.
It was established with the support of Holy Trinity Church to help alleviate the increasing numbers of local people experiencing crippling levels of debt.
The CAP service is specifically tailored to provide support to those in debt who are finding it hard to cope, particularly, anyone on low income who find themselves in need due to social or economic circumstances.
CAP not only gets people out of debt, but also provide clients with basic needs such as food shopping, carpeting, white goods and topping up gas and electricity.
The new funding, from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest funder of community activity in the UK, will assist the Debt Centre to take on more trained Debt Coaches and help increase the centre’s capacity to help more people out of debt.
The centre is also aiming to provide Money Courses to help people and Debt Centre clients, within the community, to budget and take control of their finances.
Amanda Wetton, Debt Centre Manager said: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way.
“Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to extend our area to reach more people who are struggling to make ends meet.”
