A charity which helps people out of poverty and debt is due to celebrate its first anniversary.

Christians Against Poverty Swale Debt Centre, which provides face-to-face money management and debt advice, opened on April 25 last year and will have a special service next month to celebrate.

A new debt coach is to join centre manager, Ruth Wiseman. The addition of Wendy Martin will mean more people can be seen by the group.

Mrs Wiseman said: “Because of the volume of people asking for help they may have to wait for up to three months before that help can be given. Wendy will allow us to cut that waiting time and possibly stop the situations where we can’t help due to being at full capacity.

“We want to continue seeing more people starting their journeys out of debt and going debt free as several of our clients already have done.”

Christians Against Poverty aims to eventually provide the person struggling financially with the tools they need to manage their own money.

Clients are referred to a debt coach by the organisation’s national call centre.

A local coach, based at Sittingbourne Methodist Church, is then dispatched to set up a plan and work out how people can get out of poverty.

To celebrate the charity’s first year, an anniversary service will be held on Sunday, May 19, at Sittingbourne Methodist Church in the High Street at 6pm.

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