From Reddish roots to Westminster calls: a heart for the hurting 

Debt isn’t just a financial problem; it’s a 'profound crisis of isolation and fear gripping the UK' - so says a new report from Christians Against Poverty (CAP).

CAP's Head of Policy and Public Affairs Kiri Adams is all too aware of this reality through the work of her south Manchester church  

For Kiri Adams, CAP's Head of Policy and Public Affairs, the launch of a new CAP Job Club course in her local Reddish church isn't just another community initiative; it’s a poignant collision of her worlds.

Kiri and her husband are Site Leaders of a vibrant New Frontiers church of around 70 people in Reddish, a working-class part of Manchester. As they prepare to open the doors for this week’s Job Club session, Kiri sees the direct, powerful link between the faces she’ll meet and the national policies her team at Christians Against Poverty (CAP) champions.

'It truly feels like my worlds are colliding, in the best possible way,' Kiri shares.

'In Reddish, we see the daily struggles and the incredible resilience of our community. Running a CAP Job Club here is about offering practical hope, skills, and a supportive environment where people can regain confidence and find pathways back to work. It’s about standing with our neighbours.'

Running a number of CAP services as part of the church outreach offering has led to many new faces joining the church family over the years, providing Kiri (pictured) with a constant, tangible reminder of the realities faced by those grappling with unemployment and poverty – realities that starkly inform her national role.

This personal connection is particularly resonant as CAP launches its latest report, No Time to Lose.

The report paints a sobering picture: debt isn’t just a financial problem; it’s a profound crisis of isolation and fear gripping the UK.

The findings are stark: a staggering 85 per cent of CAP clients feel isolated, with over half (52 per cent) admitting they were afraid to leave their homes. Many fear answering the phone (78 per cent) or a knock at the door (62 per cent).

These aren't abstract statistics for Kiri; they represent the potential anxieties of the very people she hopes to welcome into the Job Club. No Time to Lose reveals that CAP provided specialist debt help to 8,716 people in the last year, with new clients facing average debts of £12,260.

The report shares stories like Jolene’s, a mum of three, who described the 'deeply scary' headspace of constant financial worry and isolation before finding life-changing support and community through her local CAP debt centre.

'That community has literally saved me,' Jolene attests. It’s this power of local, face-to-face connection, particularly vital as we approach Loneliness Awareness Week (9-15 June), that Kiri witnesses unfolding in her own community and champions on a national stage.

'Seeing the local need first-hand in Reddish, and knowing the transformative impact of services like our Job Club, absolutely fuels my determination in advocating for systemic change,' Kiri explains.

'The individuals we meet aren't just case studies; their dignity, struggles, and hopes drive our policy work. No Time to Lose is more than data; it's an urgent call to policymakers to address the root causes that trap people in poverty and despair.'

Kiri’s journey from her Reddish church hall to the corridors of policy-making embodies CAP's holistic approach: compassionate, local action delivered through church partnerships, twinned with a robust national voice demanding justice.

As No Time to Lose makes clear, the challenges are immense.

But for Kiri, and for CAP, the motivation is deeply rooted in faith and a commitment to serve. It’s a ministry where head and heart, local outreach and national advocacy, prayer and policy, work hand in hand to bring hope and practical help to those who need it most. 
 

Access Christians Against Poverty's new report No Time to Lose here 

CAP has more than 1000 church partners in the UK - and works with around 180 Baptist churches.

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