FORTY-SIX churches are to open new projects to tackle poverty in their areas, after getting involved with training run by Christians Against Poverty (CAP).

Two debt centres, four job clubs, and one Release group, for addicts, will open in seven C of E churches as a result of the training programme. Methodist, Baptist, and Free Church congregations are also involved in opening anti-poverty initiatives.

A Team Vicar in the Kingswood Team Ministry, in Bristol, the Revd Andrew Mason, is running one of the pilot Release groups, which offer practical and spiritual support for people addicted to alcohol, gambling, and smoking.

"For too long the Church has nodded sympathetically at people with real-life issues, and not done anything practical to help," Mr Mason said. "This is a way that we can offer practical help to change people's lives, and it's really exciting... We're trying to be a church that makes a real difference where the real need is."

CAP has been tackling poverty in partnership with the Church for 18 years. There are now 270 CAP debt-centres across the UK; and more than 100 CAP job clubs equipping the unemployed to get back into work.