Our vision
CAP Ireland is a Christian charity that believes no Irish person should live in financial distress. We’re equipping a movement of churches to walk alongside those in financial distress whilst sharing about the fullness of life in Jesus. CAP Ireland provides the church with free practical financial tools, services, and money skills to enable financial wellbeing for their community, no matter their background or situation.
Understanding the dignity of the person, CAP Ireland and their partners offer these services without judgement but rather as a response to the grace and mercy we have received.
Our story
With a small donation and big faith, John Kirkby started Christians Against Poverty in 1996. He believed God was calling him to sacrifice his career in finance and use his knowledge of the industry to help those in financial crisis.
In his hometown of Bradford, John set off on the incredible journey of CAP. His faith adventure led him to people crippled by debt; parents who couldn’t feed their children, families facing eviction, and desperate people living in fear and without hope. He used his expertise to set up budgets, give financial advice, and offer a lifeline to those trapped in debt and financial crisis.
John knew that people all over the country were struggling in the same way, and he began looking to replicate the work across the UK. With the vital ingredients of a church to partner with, a passionate person to be trained as a CAP Centre Manager, and the faith that God would provide, four new CAP centres were opened at the end of 1998.
Since then, CAP has rapidly grown its debt centre network across the UK, partnering with hundreds of churches and expanding its services to tackle the causes of debt and poverty too. CAP also expanded internationally into Australia, New Zealand, Canada, America and now IrelandHear more about John’s story and why he started Christians Against Poverty (VIDEO)
Our people
CAP Ireland was established by a Steering Group, in close co-operation with the CAP International Team, Mark Kitson and Ed Parker. Here are the team and their roles:
New CEO Appointed April 2023 (See update)