St Jude's Personal Budget Coaches are here to help you

We are well aware of the stresses and problems that money - or a lack of it! - can bring to someone's life. So we have a team of Personal Budget Coaches who can help you draw up a good financial budget and start to bring your finances under control. We can also put you in touch with debt advisors in the Nottingham area who can advise you on how to handle demands for payment from your creditors. Our services are free and completely confidential.

You can contact St Jude's Money Matters team for more information by completing the form below, by emailing us at moneymatters@stjudeschurch.co.uk or by telephoning our dedicated number 07530 571 005. In the meantime, read on for some suggestions on how to cope.

Email the Money Matters Team

Complete the form below and we'll get back to you within twenty four hours. Try and give us some information about your situation and we'll arrange for a budget coach to contact you. The email will be sent straight to the Money Matters team who will treat your request confidentially and sympathetically.

Debt is a burden

It can be hard to know where to start. Feeling worried sick is natural and often people feel isolated, ashamed, frightened and helpless. But real help and understanding is at hand.

First of all:

  1. Do notify creditors of any problems or changes immediately.
  2. Do give priority to those debts which may result in you losing your home, fuel supply or liberty.
  3. Do respond to Court Summons immediately.
  4. Do respond to letters promptly.
  5. Do keep copies of all correspondence.
  6. Do ensure repayments are realistic.
  7. Do make regular payments - however small.
  8. Do ensure all figures are given monthly or weekly not a mixture of both.
  9. Do contact a professional debt advisor for advice if necessary – see details below.

Then:

  1. Don’t assume your debts will go away if you ignore them or if you have not heard  from your creditors for some time.
  2. Don’t be pressurised into making any quick decisions - if things upset you take time to think and cool down.
  3. Don’t ‘rob Peter to pay Paul’ – be fair in your offers.
  4. Don’t make offers you can’t afford.
  5. Don’t borrow more money to pay off your debts without taking independent advice - this can make matters worse.
  6. Don’t give up trying to reach an agreement with your creditors even if they are difficult.
  7. Don’t lose hope; even if it takes a long time, you can still get through it.
  8. Find a Christian who can pray for you while you sort out your debts

Christians Against Poverty (CAP)

This is a debt counseling service that aims to release people from debt by offering a listening ear, information, advice and practical help. The centre manager and a support worker visit people in their homes to offer them support and debt counseling, helping them to manage their money by creating a budget and liaising with creditors to pay off debt.

There are two CAP centres in Nottingham:

  • Trent Vineyard, Easter Park, Lenton Lane NG7 2PX (Ed Rippon  0115 988 7069 or email Nottingham@capuk.org)
  • Christian Centre, 104-114 Talbot Street NG1 5GL (Carol McCusker  0115 947 5947 or email cnottingham@capuk.org)

Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) Helpline

For immediate help with debt and money advice call the CCCS helpline on 0800 027 4995 or go to www.cccs.co.uk.

CCCS is a secular charity, highly recommended by Christian debt advisors. They have an office in Nottingham and can sometimes arrange a one to one interview

Debt Remedy: Online debt advice

Debt Remedy is free, fast, online advice from CCCS. You don't have to give your name or address and the advice you receive will be tailored to your personal circumstances. Visit www.cccs.co.uk and click on the link on the front page.