St. Edyths Church services for the low income in Sea Mills

St. Edyth’s Church assists the low income and families living in poverty in Sea Mills and across he North West Bristol area. They are part of the Trussell Trust food bank network and also offer the CAP debt advice services. Combining these two programmes allows the charity to help struggling residents.

St Edyth’s Church is one of two locations that is available for families to drop in at for debt help. They operate a CAP Centre that has two specialists available to provide free advice. The client can explore quick solutions, such as trying to negotiate a rapid reduction payment plan. However this form of assistance is hard to obtain.

More often than not the CAP counselling process takes the long term approach to eliminating debts. Whether a family owes money for a car or payday loan, or they need to pay a credit card company, many of those creditors do not have quick fixes.

The solution will normally involve the person creating an effective budget. They will need to know their income and expenses, and live within their means. After that has been established, the next step may be the Sea Mills resident entering into a debt management plan or relief order. CAP offers this to families.

The service is so easy and convenient to sign up for that someone can even request that the counsellor visit them in their own home. This means the specialist from St. Edyths Church will walk or drive to their home to offer face to face support. All of the advice is also confidential, and no information on incomes, amount or type of debts is shared.

CAP from St. Edyths Church will also involve the specialist negotiating directly with the creditor. They will call the loan company to offer a payment plan. Or find out from then other alternatives that are available other than bankruptcy.

St. Edyths Church also operates the emergency food bank for all of northwest Bristol. This centre will only provide short term help. The parcel of groceries that is given may feed a family for a few days, and it gives them the gift of time. This means the client should purse other options to ensure their family has food in the future.

The distribution centre is located in Sea Mills. The church does run it, but it relies on volunteers, Cribbs Causeway, the local council, and even partners such as M&S to keep it operating. Without their donations as well as financial support, the food bank would be shut down. Using all the donations, clients can be given fresh fruit, tinned goods, vegetables, and bread, among other canned groceries. The charity may also have basic needs, such as clothing or cooking supplies.

Christmas meals are also served by the church to families local to NW Bristol. During that time of the year, “Hampers” are passed out to residents living in poverty. There may also be free food provided to the unemployed during Christmas, and it would be in addition to the food bank.

To apply for this service, drop in at St. Edyths Church during the month of November. The Hampers full of meals are provided to clients during December, or a couple weeks from Christmas. They will also serve a hot meal at the church a day or so before the holiday

To apply for help, the St. Edyths Church, Sea Mills church can be contacted by calling 117 968 6965.