The Debt Saviours: Bradford’s Christians Against Poverty opens religious support for vulnerable up to BBC scrutiny
From the Yorkshire Post.
A Christian debt charity founded by Bradford’s John Kirkby has opened its religious methods up to scrutiny for an access-all-areas BBC documentary tonight. Chris Burn reports. “I have sat down with a father who has told his wife and children that they are going on an adventure and will be moving house when he knows they are going to a bed and breakfast that day, I have seen mothers considering selling themselves on the street to feed their children, I have seen people so overwhelmed with years of unemployment, they have no hope that anybody will even talk to them, let alone give them a job.
“In all of those circumstances, I have seen lives and families transformed.” There can be few people in the country who better understand the crushing weight of unsustainable debts – and how it feels when such a life-ruining burden is lifted – than John Kirkby, founder of Christians Against Poverty (CAP). The charity, which provides practical and emotional support to people in tackling debts that have ended relationships, lost homes and led to suicide attempts, started from a small office in Bradford back in 1996 but now helps more than 20,000 people per year, has sister projects in Canada, Australia and New Zealand and is supported by Prince Charles, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis. But the methods of the charity – which in addition to practical support in reducing debts also involve praying with clients and encouraging them to attend church and become religious – have not been universally welcomed.
Watch the programme here (BBC2, iPlayer)
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