Churches and charities offer support and help for town during cost-of-living crisis

By PHIL CREIGHTON news@rdg.today

IN A bid to help people struggling with the cost-ofliving crisis and energy bills, churches across Reading have teamed up to publish a list of help available.

The charities and community groups can offer help with urgent needs, take referrals and offer support and advice, free of charge.

In many instances, the groups work with Reading Borough Council to ensure people who need additional support can receive it.

CHRISTIANS AGAINST POVERTY is a national charity that has local branches based out of churches.

They run non-judgmental and confidential courses that aim to help people with budgeting, money management and debt. All sessions are free.

The charity says that it estimates more than £6 million in potential support is currently being left unclaimed because people don’t know the funds are available for tapping into. This is despite seeing a 20% rise in calls to its free debt helpline, and a 60% rise in emergency food shops.

CAP’s Director of External Affairs, Gareth McNab, sad: “Millions of people are starting 2023 facing rapidly rising costs, with huge energy bills during the cold of winter, and static incomes falling in value against record levels of inflation.

“Right now, it’s absolutely vital for anyone living on a low income to make sure they are receiving all the support they are entitled to and are aware of the free help available if they are in debt.

“Billions of pounds of benefits are still going unclaimed every year, and that’s why we’ve launched this new benefits calculator on our website, in partnership with our friends at Turn2us.”

He continued: “According to CAP’s latest client survey, half (50%) of CAP’s clients have waited at least a year before seeking help with their debt issues. A quarter (25%) took more than three years.

“If you are in debt, making the first call for help can feel tough but people often tell us they feel a real sense of relief after doing so. The sooner you get professional free debt advice from an organisation like Christians Against Poverty, the sooner we can put a plan in place and help you move forward.” uk, or log on to: ccam.org.uk

More information can be found by calling 0800 328 0006, emailing info@capuk.org, or logging on to capuk.org.

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY ACTION provides furniture, bedding, kitchen items, white goods and support via its network of charity shops in Southcote, Whitley, Sonning Common and on Oxford Road. Its furniture shop is on Northumberland Avenue and includes beds, sofas, sideboards and dressers.

It also operates a drop-in from Caversham Baptist Church on Wednesdays from noon to 2pm.

For more details, call 0118 951 2337, email support@ccam.org.

CIRDIC in Berkeley Avenue is the Churches In Reading Dropin Centre, offering help, hot meals, cleaning clothing and bedding to guests.

Among those who can use its facilities are homeless people, substance abusers, those living in poor housing, unemployed people, people with mental health issues, and people in serious financial difficulty.

As well as food, it offers bath and shower facilities, telephones, a postal address, and a listening space.

For more details, email: enquiries@cirdic.org.uk, call: 078717 373773, or log on to: www.cirdic.org.uk

In east Reading, behind Wycliffe Baptist Church off Kings Road is COMMUNICARE

People can drop-in Mondays to Thursdays from 10am, and receive advice, or get help with form filling, on benefit claims, and related issues including housing, employment, debt, and carers support. Other services include pro-bono legal advice