A CHURCH in Princes Risborough has joined forces with the Christians Against Poverty in a bid to help households struggling with debt.

Speaking at two special services held in the church earlier this month, CAP chief executive Matt Barlow said: "On average, behind one in every eight doors in the UK lives a family who are living with unmanageable debt and Relate, the marriage guidance organisation have said consistently year after year, that debt is the number one cause of families breaking up in our society."

Reverend David Williams, Rector of St Mary’s said: "We are aware of a number of families locally who need our help but as we fall within the wider area of High Wycombe, we know that there are many others in great need just a few miles away so we will be doing all we can to support those in the broader area."

Apart from encouraging people to give individually to the debt counselling work of CAP and supporting them financially as a church, St Mary’s will be providing befrienders who can accompany the CAP professional debt advisers during visits and who can work alongside them to be the local person who supports the clients during the lowest point of their life.

Rev Williams added; "Financial hardship is something that can happen to anyone at any time and through no individual fault - it is something that can lead to reliance on medication, destroy families and sadly in some cases, can lead to thoughts of or attempts at suicide.

"I hope that through this new Christian partnership with CAP we can reach out to those in need and help them to get out of the state of debt and escape the dark cloud they are going through in their lives."

CAP can be contacted 0800 328 0006 for support and advice.