Story
What is Happening?
This year I celebrate 70 years, my personal pilgrimage through times of success & times of failure. I aim to celebrate this year by encouraging people to give to support the work of the SCDC (CAP) in guiding and supporting those living with the trauma of personal debt.
I was born on the 1st April 1954! Yes, that makes me 70 foolish years old,
As might be said - 'Some people were born foolish - Some people achieve foolishness - Some have foolishness thrust upon them… But, as for me... I was simply born on April 1st in 1954.'
Personally, I lay the blame for this event fairly and squarely on my mother. In my youth, I bitterly complained to her about all the taunts and practical jokes that I had to endure. In her defence she said she couldn't do much about it at the time, as events apparently overtook her and she had little awareness of what day it was on the Roman Calendar.
So, this year I celebrate 70 years living in a fool's paradise; a personal pilgrimage through times of success and times of failure, times of financial ease and moments of agonising debt.
During the year there will be a number of events, many small but others larger, which will provide opportunities for giving.
Who are CAP - ‘Christians Against Poverty’ and why am I supporting the Suffolk Coastal Debt Centre?
Christians Against Poverty is a National charity, and was founded in 1996 by John Kirkby. He believed that God was calling him to move from a career in finance and use his knowledge to help those in financial need. CAP is nationally recognised as a reliable debt counselling service and has been signposted by Martin Lewis.
‘Christians Against Poverty isn’t about helping Christians, it’s about helping people. The drive, the reason you do it, is your Christianity and your faith and I will never knock that. I think that’s right. The most important thing is the enormous number of results, and every time I mention Christians Against Poverty, I get people who tell me how it’s changed their lives." Martin Lewis."
Christians Against Poverty clearly assert,
“Poverty is so much more than going without. Poverty destroys lives. It robs people of joy, hope, and opportunities. It tears families apart, isolates those most in need of support, and leads many to believe there is no way out.”
In the delightful Suffolk countryside rural poverty rubs shoulders with affluent indifference. In the UK 14 million people experience poverty in their daily lives. Poverty lives just a few steps along the road. However, in East Suffolk we are fortunate to have the well managed Suffolk Coastal Debt Centre (SCDC), based in Saxmundham and serving the region’s communities. This is managed by Laura Knight and partnered with the Saxmundham, Kelsale and Carlton benefice of churches (SKC church). The SCDC is widely supported by local Christian communities, across denominations in the Suffolk Coastal area (basically covering the region from Southwold to Woodbridge). They work to stand alongside those struggling with debt and offer additional life skills courses, financial education to schools and administer an emergency relief fund. In essence they are harbingers of hope
Your Giving
Our local Benefice of Anglican churches in Saxmundham, Kelsale and Carlton are collectively called the SKC church and form the nominated local church which has approved charitable status for CAP donations. Your gifts will go directly to the local project via SKC to be shared between the work of local Suffolk Coastal Debt Centre and CAP at a national level. This is supported by 'Churches Together' locally and by churches and fellowships throughout the Suffolk Coastal region.
Debt and poverty are ruthless. Together with local churches, we’re transforming lives and working to end UK poverty."