Millions of Brits turn to local churches for help with debt and hunger this Christmas

The charity found 12.5 million UK adults, or 23 per cent of the population, reported they, a family member, or a friend has received support from a Christian organisation within the last five years. Those facing hardship can feel it mostduring the festive period and Clare Tither told GB News she relied on a foodbank in a church to put food on the table for her children on Christmas Day.

Ms Tither felt worthless after her military career came to an end, and struggling to find work she contemplated taking her own life. "I remember sitting on the floor one Christmas whilst my children were in the front room sitting there thinking I can't provide anything for them, I've no food, whilst I was unpacking a food bank parcel on the floor" she said.

"Financially it was unbearable: bailiffs on my door on a daily basis, phone calls, struggling to feed my children, I couldn't manage anything with day to day living and was unemployed. I was trying to keep my head above water but I was actually drowning and I was thinking my children were better off with my parents. I actually contemplated suicide. I felt there was no way out."

Ms Tither was supported by the Job Club run by Christians Against Poverty at Champion's Church in Skipton, North Yorkshire. She gained employment after completing the job club course run by the charity and went on to become an Assistant Job Coach to help others develop the skills to find work.

She said: "I'm so passionate about the work that CAP (Christians Against Poverty) do and the Job Club. It did turn my life around and after that first course, a month later, I was back into work." Child poverty in the UK is increasing and this winter the challenges are harder than ever, with many parents and children going hungry.

Currently, 1 in 3 children in Britain are living in poverty, in cold homes with empty cupboards. Many families face difficult choices about how to provide for their children, especially during winter.

To help churches provide emergency food aid to families in need this Christmas and long term support to help them out of debt and poverty, Christians Against Poverty have launched a festive appeal. Steve Hudson, Christians Against Poverty's Skipton Job Club Manager, told GB News: "The money is going towards emergency food aid to feed people this Christmas

"The thing that comes to my mind is the Christmas Carol story and poor Tiny Tim when he's sitting there with no food and a bare table and that is reality. We sit there on Christmas Day crying our eyes out in front of the cameras, 'Oh look at poor little Tiny Tim', when it's happening on your doorsteps, it's happening on people's doorsteps, and what we can do as individuals is help out by donating and helping people to smile this Christmas."

More than half of the country believes local parish support is crucial right now. According to CAP, around 35 million UK adults believe churches and Christian organisations will play an important role in providing support for families and individuals who are struggling within the next 12 months.

Ben Warrender, a local CAP debt centre manager, is supporting the most vulnerable families in his community. He said: “Many of the people we’re helping are in so much need and poverty that their main focus is simply keeping their family warm and fed this Christmas. Due to high costs of essentials, many households face difficult choices again this winter between keeping warm, putting food on the table or falling into spiralling debts. Churches across the UK are stepping in to help, providing vital face to face support, like CAP’s emergency food shops, and longer-term solutions such as free debt advice.

"Many families are being helped to break free from the chains of debt but the need is huge and our resources can only stretch so far without more financial support from kind people with a passion to help families in their communities and stop poverty. By donating to CAP’s Christmas appeal, you can provide a lifeline and hope to families facing the most difficult and vulnerable situations this Christmas time.”

It is hoped the public will donate up to £300,000 to ensure families will have food on the table this Christmas. Go to capuk.org/appeal to donate.

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