Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Debt Centre has been awarded £357 Community Funding from Abri for their Life Skills Course which has been taking place at St Peters Community Centre, Yeovil.
CAP operates UK-wide and abroad. In Yeovil, the course is delivered by a team from St John’s Church, which has had a debt centre for eleven years.
Previously, all CAP courses in Yeovil were delivered at St John’s Church, but the funding received from Abri, one of the largest housing providers in the south, has enabled the Life Skills coaches to expand their reach. These courses are well placed to support local communities; promoting wellbeing, healthy eating, community cohesion and connection during the cost of living crisis.
Jennifer Matthew, CAP Life Skills Manager said: “Our Life Skills courses are designed to support households on low incomes. We recognise that in the current climate, knowing exactly where your money is coming from and where it’s going each month can be very difficult. We also know that everyone can find dealing with the pressures of life a stressful and lonely challenge at times. That’s why the CAP Life Skills course is designed to be run in a fun and a relaxed environment so that participants can meet other people in similar situations where they can understand and encourage each other.”
The Community Fund is part of Abri’s commitment to empowering lives and creating thriving communities, making them better places to live. Abri has awarded over £90,000 from its Community Fund to support local organisations and projects between April 2022-March 2023.
Applications are decided on by Abri’s Thriving Communities panel, made up of customers and those living in its communities.
Lorraine Thompson, an Abri customer and Thriving Communities panel member, said: “I’m so glad to see this kind of project in Yeovil, it’s a brilliant opportunity for the participants to learn many skills and grow their confidence in tackling the cost-of-living issues that face people right now.”
Other successful applications for Abri’s Community Fund include:
- £2,000 to Youth Options receives for Millbrook Youth Support
- £730 for St Michaels & All Angels Church for their Community Coffee Mornings
The latest CAP Life Skills course started on May 10 and runs weekly (excluding half-term) until July 5. CAP run the courses three times a year reaching up to ten more people each time. The next course will be starting on Monday 11 September between 7-9pm at St John’s Church.
To sign up for the Life Skills courses people should contact Jennifer on 07933 198130, email jennifermatthew@caplifeskills.org or ask at the St Peter’s Community Centre for an information leaflet.
Abri’s Community Fund opens for applications four times a year, and organisations can apply for up to £3,000 to support a project in one of Abri’s communities. The next application window is 1-31 July 2023.
Projects with a cost-of-living focus will be prioritised.
Application forms, and window dates are available on Abri’s website at https://www.abri.co.uk/services/enterprise-investment/community-funding.