Together4Bristol : South Bristol CAP Debt Centre Update

South Bristol CAP Debt Centre Update - January 2022

Dear Friend, As we come out of the COVID pandemic and start to look ahead to the post-COVID recovery, we wanted to keep you updated with the exciting developments that are happening with the South Bristol CAP Debt Centre and share with you our vision going forwards. You may remember our Debt Centre Manager, Rachel Goodchild. She has done a brilliant job of getting the Debt Centre set up, and she persevered through the challenging lockdown period to support clients. At the beginning of the year, she felt that it was the right time to move on to something else, so we recruited a new Debt Centre Manager. Rebecca Kishtainy, pictured below, started in March and we are so thrilled to have her on board! She has lived in South Bristol for nearly 20 years and has a real heart for serving the people within this area. She has seen 20 clients already and sees an additional four new clients each month.

Rebecca says, "It has been such a privilege to build on the amazing work that Rachel started. The best bit so far has been seeing my first client become debt free and, just through natural conversations and invitations, see some of them give their lives to Jesus. They have experienced even greater transformation through finding family in the local church, it's phenomenal! And we would love to help even more people become debt free – the need in South Bristol is big and growing.” The need for debt related services has unsurprisingly increased throughout the last 18 months, and so we are delighted to be welcoming a volunteer debt coach to the team, one day a week. We are so grateful for God’s continued provision, especially in regards to the financial support that so many have generously given. This has enabled us to run the Debt Centre for its first three years. Thank you.

The current annual cost of the South Bristol Debt Centre is £19,000. We would love to invite you, as a valued supporter of the work of CAP, to consider once more supporting its work financially in order for it to continue. This could be through a one-off donation or a regular, monthly amount. Even a small monthly amount can truly make a significant difference! If you would like to make a financial contribution, you can click here to go through to our CAP Giving Page. We would also greatly appreciate your partnership in praying for the work of the CAP Debt Centre and especially its clients. If you or someone in your church would like to be added to the South Bristol CAP Debt Centre Prayer WhatsApp group, receiving regular on the ground updates, then email Rebecca on rebeccakishtainy a_t capuk d_o_t org and she will be delighted to add you! With the increase of clients being seen, there are opportunities for volunteers to come alongside the CAP clients as befrienders. This involves simply being a friend, offering moral support and enabling a client to engage with the local church. If your church would like to be more involved in this, and you have potential befrienders, please drop Rebecca an email. Additionally, Rebecca would love to come and share with your church about the work of CAP. If you are interested in this, please email Rebecca. Thank you so much for your partnership in this amazing service. We are so proud of the work that the CAP Debt Centre does and would love to see its' reach within South Bristol increased. Claire Lynch, Co-Lead Pastor Severn Vineyard and Rebecca Kishtainy, CAP Debt Centre Manager

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