Fundraising Dinners

The work in my department is going well - something that has been exciting but quite challenging and a lot to get used to. I'm working in the Partnership Department which does all the events / fundraising stuff and within that I'm specifically working in the Major Donors area on fundraising dinners.

We had a fundraising dinner in Manchester just last Friday night so in the lead up to that we've been sending out invitations, getting menu chioces out to people and doing lots and lots of phone calling for RSVPs. The actual organisation of the dinner is probably the easiest part, the hardest part is getting people to RSVP to us within enough time!

Anyways, 140 people said they would come, which is great! One of the fantastic things about CAP is that despite being a charity, they are extremely business like and professional and they want to do the best that they can, and give the best that they can. For example, they want to give the best debt advice and counselling service possible, believing that just because the people they help are poor, this does not mean they should get a poor service.

This is extended into everything that CAP do, including their events which means that everything is meticulously planned and thought out. For the fundraising dinners, by getting a well known, respected venue to host us gives a great impression and so last Friday the dinner was held at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester - one of the swankiest places I have EVER been to! As a charity, they have got very good at gettting things really cheap so although The Lowry is normally ridiculously expensive they managed to get room hire and a three course meal for an absolute steal! (Although I guess it helps the business of the hotel if they have just had over 100 people come to an amazing dinner and enjoy being there.)

We got there around 2pm to do all the set up such as table decorations and drinks reception before the guests started arriving at 7pm. I and a couple of others registered them, (whilst Manchester United footballers walked past - apparently a lot of them stay at The Lowry!) they had a small drinks reception and then we all went in and sat down for the meal. Matt Barlow (Chief Executive) welcomes everyone, says grace and we have starters. I was a table host for the evening which was quite scary to begin with, but meant I just needed to be a point of call for those who maybe didn't know all that much about the work of CAP and so wanted to know more. Did test my 6 weeks worth of CAP knowledge quite a bit though!

After starters they showed a short 6 minute DVD which gives a brief explanation about the work that CAP does. There are some amazing client testimonies in the DVD as well, which although I've seen it loads of times by now, still breaks my heart with the pain of what some people go through, and yet shows the light and redemption that God brings through CAPs intervention.

We then had our main course, and after that there were two clients there that evening who had come to share their stories. One was a lady called Stella and another lady called Kerry. Two really brave women with a fantastic testimony of God's love and grace in their lives who just explained what the impact debt had on their lives before CAP were involved, the impact which having that hope of being free from debt had, and then the impact church and coming to know Jesus had on them and their families - amazing!

John Kirkby (founder and international director of the charity) then gives a talk with more of the background, vision and heart of CAP. I've heard the talk quite a few times by now through different events, and yet it is always so inspiring - John's passion and belief that this nation can be changed and that people can be reached with the good news of the gospel is incredible.

So after giving peiople the vision and heart of the charity, and after hearing from some of the clinets who have been helped by CAP, John then gives people an opportunity to respond financially. Because the tickets to the dinner are free, people are never under any pressure to give - they can just come, have a great meal, and then leave although most people are so touched by what they hear that this doesn't happen very often!

Anyways, it was amazing - in the end people gave around £180,000 in gifts of pledges that evening. Really humbling to see God's provision to CAP through such amazing people.

CAP Money

Total UK personal debt at the end of July 2010 stood at £1,456 billion.

The average household debt in the UK is (excluding mortgages) £8,628. Including mortgages it is £57,810.

The average consumer borrowing via credit cards, motor and retail finance deals, overdrafts and unsecured personal loans has risen to £4,447 per average UK adult.

The average owed by every UK adult is £29,929 (including mortgages) which works out at 126% of average earnings.

(Credit Action Statistics)

Whether we like it or not, money is important - it affects almost every aspect of our lives and as these statistics show, how we spend our money today can have a drastic impact on how we live our lives tomorrow. With this amount of personal and household debt many people are looking at house repossession, bankruptcy and bailiffs - issues that CAP deal with every day, on behalf of their clients.

However, a few years ago CAP realised that there must be more they can do to stop people becoming clients, to prevent people from getting into the amount of serious debts CAP daily deal with.

So CAP Money came to be. A simple money management and financial planning course run through local churches, one night a week for three weeks - there are now more than 700 churches trained to run the course and more than 10,000 people this year will have attended and "graduated" from a CAP Money course.

The CAP Money system is tried and tested, works irrespective of income or financial know-how and is based on three basic principles:

1. Building and living on a budget
2. CAP Money system of 3 accounts - one for cash, one for regular payments and one for saving.
3. Living from week to week using cash, not card.

Regardless of how much or how little money we have, all of us can struggle to manage it and have the right attitude towards it. Being in control of our money can be a very simple process (such as the above), and when we are in control of our money, rather than our money controlling us we find that not only is our life fuller but our money can be used as a tool for good so much more easily!

One of the local churches in Bradford was running it this October so I decided that I should probably go along to one of these courses and see for myself what all the fuss was about! Anyways, it was suprisingly easy, suprisingly fun and even though I didn't have particularily poor money management skills, it really helped me to be in even more control of my finances.

They go through our budgets with us personally, give us a few hints and tips to make it easier and show us extra ways we can save money. The CAP Money coaches were brilliant - very reassuring and so eager to help us with everything. The simple but effective methods of having three seperate accounts and then only using cash is really helpful as it makes sticking to a budget so much easier.

This is something I'm realising that a lot of people my age haven't had a chance to learn about - money management, budgeting or financial planning aren't necessarily in every school or university curriculum so I feel very lucky to be able to do the course!

One of the most exciting things from doing the CAP Money was that I realised I can save a lot more than I am at the moment (I thought only getting paid £80 a week would make that difficult but CAP Money has shown otherwise!) and I can also afford to give away much more than I am at the moment - how exciting to realise that I can become not only a channel of God's love and peace on earth but also of his money and resources!

Saving lives

One of the things I've realised from working at CAP is the need for its work and God's intervention becoming so appallingly clear.

I don't think I realised the extent to which debt and poverty affects people here in the UK and it's so easy to think that this kind of thing doesn't happen yet here it is - on our doorstep, in our nation, affecting our neighbours.

So when you start to look, and when you start to see the world in all its brokenness the need is so great it is almost difficult to know how you could possibly not have noticed it before!

From depression to suicide, from divorce to ill health, the impact debt has on people is crippling - most of it behind closed doors, hidden away out of shame or fear or depression.

One of the most heartbreaking things is that there are over 250 people a month who are turned away from CAP because there isn't a centre in their area, when we know if we sent someone into their situation it would transform their life!

I met a lady who is a CAP client a couple of weeks ago at one of our fund-raising events who said that she literally knows she wouldn't be here today if CAP hadn't walked into her life, taken the burden of debt off her shoulders, told her she was loved by God and stopped her from committing suicide.

Its quite scary to think about the depths people are driven to because of debt, yet exciting to be a part of the change that keeps people alive!

Whatever you did for the least of these

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

³⁷"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

⁴⁰"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "

(Matthew 25 vs 35 - 40)

CAP is a 21^st century model of meeting these needs.

"For I was hungry and you fed me…”

67% of CAP clients missed meals 1 in 4 doing so regularly.

With testimony after testimony of mothers not eating so they can feed their kids, CAP’s budgeting system prioritises food so that families can provide for and feed their children.

25% of clients have no food when we get there.

Often the people CAP visit will have literally nothing in the kitchen or fridge due to debt-related poverty. Because we want to show them God's love, not just a financial plan, CAP will take their new client food shopping, blessing them in a joyful and abundant way! The thankful response is heart-breaking in its simplicity and wonder that people would actually care enough to do this for them.

Through CAP there is instant and sustainable food, hunger is removed, the picture of helping people with simply a drink, given with love.

“I was a stranger and you invited me in…I was in prison and you came to visit me”

80% said they lived in fear.

Debt is isolation, people hiding behind chairs, not answering doors, hiding from family and friends, ashamed, broken, lost.

We reach in to show love and compassion, we break the isolation caused by debt and through a fantastic base of volunteer support workers CAP befriends clients, introduces them to church and shows them they have value and worth in God's eyes.

“I was sick and you looked after me…”

There are huge health issues caused by stress and poor nutrition.

74% visited their GP due to debt-related stress with 44% prescribed medication.

1 in 3 either considered or attempted suicide before seeking help.

Let's pause right there - people are literally dying in pain, fear, depression and darkness, all because of debt?!? How is this in any way acceptable? When did we give evil such power?

1 in 4 couples split up due to debt and 77% of all respondents said the financial strain of being in debt caused arguments and stress with their partner.

CAP is there to bind up the broken-hearted, to bring restoration and healing, to see God's peace, love and mercy enter troubled households. By praying for and with our clients, CAP declare God's kingdom here on this earth.

CAP is a 21^st century expression of God’s heart for the lost and broken, we pray with clients, invite them to church and every year hundreds are saved and brought into local churches to see their lives transformed.

'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

True Stories ~ Jenny Nicholls

"Eighteen months ago I was destitute, with no way out. My debts amounted to £8,000. A five year illness had stripped me of my life savings and meant I could no longer pay my credit card bills. This led to stress and depression.

I couldn't cope with life most of the time, let alone conduct my finances. I could no longer juggle my money to pay the bills, eat and keep a roof over my head.

I was truly at the end of my tether. It was my darkest hour, with suicidal thoughts running through my head.

I phoned my friend Judy, who told me about CAP and introduced me to Dani (CAP Clevedon Centre Manager). She visited me at home and we planned a way forward.

I can't explaine the relief I felt when I realised CAP weren't looking to gain financially from me, but were genuingly there to help me.

The pressure was taken off my shoulders and I had enough money to live on each week. Feeling better, I then tried to come off my anti-depressants but ended up with horrendous withdrawal symptoms.

I called Judy, who came to see me. She asked me if I wanted to be saved and I said, "Yes I do. I'm desperate, I want Jesus in my life." From that moment on, things have just got better and better!

CAP managed to get a reduced settlement figure for my debts and, after re-mortgaging my house to release some money, I am now debt free!

Due to my previous illness, working full time wasn't possible, so with some of the money from my re-mortgage, I bought a smaller house to renovate. That property is now fully renovated and back up for sale - I have a new career in property development!

I also have time to concentrate on my singing voice, which will now be used for His glory.

I'm now off anti-depressants and I have my life back - none of this would have been possible without Christians Against Poverty."

Partnership

The days pass quickly, shrouded by golden sunsets and wakened by crisp blue skies, or more often, by the pitter-patter of tiny raindrops on my window. As we walk to work the city sprawls beneath us, yorkshire moors hanging clean and fresh in the background whilst the traffic trundles by us.


Each day is different, but always begins with prayers in the basement "common room" (for lack of a better word!) with all 150 head office staff. Whether it is to pray for our clients, to seek God for finances or to share with one another our needs and desires the 15minute session starts the day at 9am with God as our provider and our stronghold!


I am working in the Partnership department which looks after the CAP Money course, National Events, Sponsered Events, Lifechangers (what you can become!), CAP Sunday, Church Partnership and my team - Major Donors and Fundraising Dinners.

So we have three more fundraising dinners this year which are a chance for some of our supporters to hear from a couple of clients about the way in which CAP has impacted their lives, and God's love changed them, hear from John Kirkby about the work that CAP wants to continue to do in this nation and then an opportunity to give into this.

Always a really inspiring night, Manchester, London and Darlington still to come!