A FREE counselling service is being set by an Oldbury church to help people stuck in the debt trap.

King’s Community Church, Tame Road, has teamed up with the charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) to bring its award-winning debt counselling service to the area.

Oldbury centre manager Sarah Jordan said: “The church has always been about offering hope and we're really pleased to be able to give a tried-and-tested route out of debt alongside other great free debt advice in the area like Citizens Advice.

“There is a lot in the Bible about looking after the poorest. In our society, a lot of poverty is debt-related so our congregation has been working hard to open a CAP centre to help get people back on track.”

She said CAP offers people a “uniquely in-depth, caring service” to people with spiralling personal debt regardless of their age, gender, faith or background.

Clients are visited at home and the charity negotiates with their creditors. Volunteers offer support to each person face-to-face until they are debt free.

Ms Jordan said: “Statistics show that one in three callers seeking debt help are feeling suicidal but find huge relief through the non-judgemental service that treats every person as an individual.

“Typically, debts can build up when a relationship breaks down, or someone loses their job, or through bereavement – so often when people are least able to cope with a financial headache.

“We’re just so pleased to be able to partner the care of our church with the financial expertise of CAP’s head office in Bradford.”