Families helped to clear £550,000 of debt in three years

MORE than £550,000 of debt has been cleared from 25 households in Henley in the last three years with the help of Christians Against Poverty.

More than 50 supporters, trustees and staff attended a celebration which took place in the d:two centre last week to mark the milestone.

The start-up was made possible by Henley Citizens Advice, led by Andy Jones, and the Nomad youth and community group, led by Tim Prior, who identified the need for the debt centre. The charity now has more than 50 befrienders and volunteer coaches.

Nine families are currently being supported on the journey out of debt in Henley.

Sarah Smith, who has been living in Henley for more than 30 years and has worked as a debt coach for a year, said she didn’t realise how debt affects families.

She recalled helping her first client, who had been diagnosed with breast and lung cancer, become free of £18,000 of debt. She later had successful surgeries. Ms Smith said: “My first client became debt-free after an
11-month journey and for the first time in years, she doesn’t have to worry.

“When I visited her initially, we found unopened bills in carrier bags, letters scattered all over the place and bills down the side of the sofa.

“I’d ask her, ‘What can I do to help?’ and she really wanted some teeth so that she could go out and not feel embarrassed to talk with people. She showed amazing strength of character, through her humour and courageous outlook on life, during the most difficult of trials.

“We had a tremendous answer to our prayers and thanks to a donation, my client got new teeth.”

The debt centre runs two eight-week courses, designed to help those while on their journey out of debt.

The job club runs once a week for eight weeks, two times a year at the YMCA and d:two centre. The charity has run four courses since it started, providing training to 27 Henley residents, 11 of whom have now found employment.

The life skills course motivates people to stay on track and provides budgeting skills, considering both health and wellbeing. It has run five courses with a total of 27 members.

The charity is looking for a new treasurer and fundraising trustee. For more information and to apply, email maryanne
uwaezuoke@caplifeskills.org