Communities Fund has provided £825 of match funding
Penge debt centre, Christians Against Poverty
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
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Aim
We empower people struggling with debt to take control of their finances and become debt free. We train people to manage their home budgets.
Our debt service
Penge debt centre, in partnership with national charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP), provides debt advice to people struggling with debt. Many of our clients have physical or mental health or addiction issues, or face homelessness or relationship breakdown. Most are on benefits. We offer a solution to all debt clients, typically through a debt repayment plan or insolvency. We start seeing two to three new debt clients each month and are typically working with 20 to 25 clients at any time. Since September 2025 three of our centre's clients have gone debt free.
We have 3 main appointments with each client, and sometimes divide these into extra meetings in complex cases. In the first appointment, we explain our service, hear the client's story and give any immediate advice e.g. how to deal with enforcement officers or claim food and energy vouchers. We explain what paperwork and information the client needs to collect. At the second appointment we compile detailed information on the client's circumstances and finances. Often we need to help the client proactively to collect information e.g. by jointly calling creditors, landlords and other agencies. We send the information to our Bradford support office who provide advice and a budget. At the third appointment we explain a recommended route out of debt and the client’s budget. Our support office usually supports clients on their route out of debt and we in Penge continue to provide local support to these clients. At each meeting we offer prayer for those who would like this. We have our own food bank and offer this to clients weekly.
Money coaching
We run money coaching courses which are open to all. Participants learn how to balance their household budget and manage their money through different accounts. Since November 2024 we have run 7 courses, including three for students (two of which were online).
Our centre and how it is supported
Last year Penge debt centre celebrated its 15th anniversary, thanks to God's faithfulness and provision. We serve Penge, Beckenham, South and Upper Norwood, Sydenham and West Dulwich. We have two debt coaches and two money coaches, and are supported by 7 volunteers.
Our debt centre is a project of, and is hosted by, Holy Trinity with St John, Penge (registered charity, number 1197262) and is supported by local churches. We offer our services to people of any faith, or none.
We will use the funding we raise for core costs. It costs about £26,500 per year to run Penge debt centre. Regular contributions from local churches and individuals cover about half of our outgoings. We currently have just under 12 months' reserves. We receive no material funding from CAP and we pay CAP for provision of advice.
About this crowdfunding
This crowdfunding appeal opens for donations on Friday 11 September. Any donations of up to £250 by individual, unique donors in the first 6 weeks of this appeal will attract matched funding from Aviva’s Community Fund.
Platform fees of 1.9% + 20p per donation will be deducted from funds we receive through this crowdfunding.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 23rd October 2026 at 5:00pm