Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has released a new report, "Beyond belief: the local church and poverty," revealing that local churches and Christian organisations are an “unseen force” providing vital support to 12.5 million people across the U.K. in the last five years.
The findings underscore the churches’ indispensable role in providing practical aid and spiritual hope to families devastated by the cost of living crisis. The report details the diverse forms of assistance offered by churches, including free food packages/meals, energy top-ups, mental and emotional support, and free debt advice.
CAP's Chief Executive Officer Stewart McCulloch said the research shows local churches are providing vital help to U.K. families during these times of financial difficulty.
“It's incredible to see local churches uniting to tackle poverty and be a beacon of hope in their communities,” he said. “We urge the Christian community and all who are able to join our movement."
Polling of 2,000 U.K. adults by CAP for the commissioned report indicates the profound depth of the church's community engagement. Almost a quarter of respondents reported that they, a family member, or a friend had received direct support from a local church or Christian organisation within the last five years.
A substantial majority of U.K. adults believe that Christian organisations will play an important role in supporting struggling families and individuals in the next twelve months.
McCulloch believed the report's significance showed the scale of the problem and the effectiveness of solutions shown by local churches.
“Local churches have always been known as places that offer practical care and support to their communities, but our latest research reveals the sheer scale at which they’ve been having a positive impact during the cost of living crisis,” he said.
McCulloch affirmed that this data aligns with CAP's daily work, which sees local Christians offering free, face-to-face debt counselling to the most vulnerable, leading to thousands of families breaking free from financial bondage.
A level of spiritual liberty has also resulted from the endeavours of this support work by Christians.
The ministry cited the example of Jade, a mom-of-three from the English county of Devon, who was overwhelmed by thousands of pounds of debt and struggling to feed her children.
“I called CAP and instantly they were like, ‘How can we help? Do you need food? Do you need an energy top-up?’ It really was the turning point in my life,” she shared.
Jade recounted how her local debt coach and a befriender from the church offered to pray for her son, who was struggling with medical issues.
“They prayed and he was healed, and that’s when I gave my life to Jesus. I fully believe Jesus exists. Being supported by CAP and Holy Trinity Church [Barnstaple] has completely transformed our lives!”
Sam Wolstencroft, Debt Centre Manager at St Peter's Church Halliwell, Bolton, emphasised the divine mandate of their work.
“We get to bring hope and light into these situations through practical, compassionate, expert support in our area, and also play our part in the mission to end U.K. poverty,” said Wolstencroft.
