RESIDENTS in the Wee County facing money worries due to the pandemic are being urged to seek help from a service in Tillicoultry.

Tillicoultry Baptist Church is encouraging residents in Clacks and the wider area to get in touch as part of its Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Forth Valley Debt Centre initiative.

Fiona Welsh, CAP Debt Centre manager, said: “We know that many people wait as long as three years before finding help with their debts.

“At first it may seem like you can manage a drop in income, but when bills start to get missed debt can rapidly build up until it becomes unmanageable.

“Debt can have many causes – ill health, bereavement, relationship breakdown or low income – so it may not just be due to the pandemic, although we know that many people in our area have had a reduction in hours or income and may be struggling.”

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the debt help service has adapted to follow social distancing guidelines to stay safe whilst still offering its support.

Support includes helping clients in practical ways, such as linking them up with foodbanks, arranging emergency fuel top ups and encouragement with a friendly voice at the other end of the phone.

With Christmas fast approaching, Fiona added: “Getting help as early as possible can make a big difference; and we want everyone in our area to know that our service is here, completely free of charge.

“We don’t want anyone going into the winter and towards Christmas worrying about how they’ll manage.”

One CAP client, named Jude, laid bare the “awful” situation she found herself in due to debt.

She said: “I dreaded the postman.

“Every time he came it was just debt, debt, debt.

“I was completely alone and there was no one to talk to.

“I had to cut back a lot, skipping meals and going without different things.

“Then I got in touch with CAP. It was amazing.

“You get these lovely people who are prepared to help and do whatever they can.

“They’re so kind. Because I was going without meals, they brought me a big bag of stuff from the church’s food bank.

“At last someone was here to listen to me and help me. I could finally breathe.”

Debt centre manager Fiona added: “It doesn’t matter whether people have reached the desperation Jude faced, or whether they’ve just begun to struggle.

“We are able to help and are determined to do whatever we can to alleviate the additional pressure that many people are facing as they negotiate loss of or low income.

“We may all be affected by this pandemic but we’re not all in the same boat.

“Asking for help is a positive step.”

People struggling with debt can contact CAP by visiting capuk.org or calling 0800 328 0006.