As the cost-of-living bites, churches continue to not only be used as places for worship, celebration and solemn contemplation, but are increasingly being used as food and financial hubs.
Christians Against Poverty provide debt help at churches across the UK, including at Gateway Church in Barnsley.
It was there that Susan Cooper, 77, was eased of her financial burdens with the help of debt coach Jonathan.
She was in £40,000 of debt after a divorce from her husband, which included a large amount of credit card debt.
Eventually, her house was repossessed as she could not afford to pay the mortgage on her own, and she eventually went bankrupt.
Susan Cooper told GB News that the thousands of pounds of debt left her with constant worry and sleepless nights.
She said: “It was just on my mind all the time. I couldn’t sleep and there was my son, who was only 14 at the time and he kept wanting things and you can’t provide it to the extent that he once had.
“I kept fretting about what I could do to get out of debt and didn’t seem to be getting anywhere until I got in touch with CAP [Christians Against Poverty] and after working with them, I just I couldn’t believe the difference.
“Eventually I was made bankrupt, which was a big thing at the time but I’m not bothered about it now because I’d rather have no debt which is the situation now.
“At the time though I really did struggle and even got to the point where I couldn’t even afford my mobile phone to communicate with anybody.
“I’m doing okay now, but the cost of everything is going up, bills, heating, food, and I’ve got arthritis in both legs and I’ve had a hip and knee replacement so winter can be a tough time of year putting the heating on and the cost of it, as I really need to keep warm or else I’d just seize up.”
