CAP NI seeing a rising number of clients
Christmas is fast approaching but for some the spectre of debt will cloud their celebrations, if they can afford any in the first place.
A recent item on UTV highlighted the issue, saying that, “Charities are reporting a huge rise in the number of families who have working parents coming to them for help.”
Such is the level of debt in Northern Ireland, Christians Against Poverty, which has several centres in the Diocese of Down and Dromore, has seen a 24% increase in the number of people they are trying to help, compared to last year.
Chris Cupples, CAP’s Northern Ireland Area Manager, said many of them are deeply distressed.
“Worryingly we did a survey earlier in the year and asked clients what it felt like to be in debt,” Mr Cupples told UTV.
“We found that in Northern Ireland one in two had either attempted or considered suicide because of debt – so you can see it affects people’s mental health and caused depression and illness, and there’s always a way out of it but that pressure can build up and cause illness.”
Help is at hand
Christians Against Poverty is a national debt counselling charity. It works with local churches offering hope and a solution to anyone in debt through its unique, in–depth service.
Click here for the list of CAP centres in Northern Ireland.