A FREE local debt advice service is celebrating fifteen years of helping hundreds of local people and their families in Yeovil to sort out their finances.

St John’s Church, Yeovil, launched the Debt Centre in partnership with UK debt and budgeting help charity, Christians Against Poverty (CAP), in 2011.

During the last fifteen years, CAP’s Yeovil Debt Centre has helped over 182 households to go debt free, with a total of over £2.4 million debt repaid/ written off.

They kicked-off their 15th anniversary with an acoustic concert on Saturday evening which raised over £1400 which will be split between Yeovil CAP Centre and St John’s Church.

The celebrations concluded on Sunday with a special thanksgiving service, featuring stories from individuals who have become debt-free and a video message from CAP.

CEO Stewart McCulloch. Attendees also heard from Debt Centre founder, Ian Croxford, as well as from other former and current CAP staff and volunteers.

Mary Irwin, Yeovil Debt Centre Manager, said: “The anniversary concert was a wonderful way to mark the occasion and the music was amazing. It was also great to hear stories about some of the amazing people that have been helped out of debt over the last 15 years at the thanksgiving service.”

A former CAP client said that since becoming debt free, "I am not afraid to go to my postbox - I go there everyday without worrying. Friends have been telling me how well I look now as well!"

Another said: "Since going debt free through CAP seven years ago, I have been recommending you to everyone I know because you were all so helpful."

Mary continued: “We want to give huge praise to everyone in debt who has contacted us for help, worked with our team, and are now debt free or making progress towards achieving that aim.

“I also want to thank all the team and volunteers from our partner churches who over the last 15 years have spent countless hours supporting local people in need. Because of them, many lives in Yeovil have been changed for the better.”

“This is why it’s vital we continue our work and you can play your part by helping us to raise awareness of free debt advice and by donating to Yeovil CAP Debt Centre so we can help more people. Together, we can help change more lives and tackle poverty in Yeovil.”

If you’re interested in finding out more about how you can directly support Yeovil CAP Debt centre, you can contact Mary Irwin at [email protected].

If you are struggling with your finances, you can find out more about what services CAP offers in your area by visiting capuk.org/help.