About Us

Freeing people in debt and poverty in Colchester since 2013.

What We Do

‘And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’

Micah 6:8

In the UK there are 15 million people in poverty – 22% of the entire population. Here in Colchester the Foodbank feeds 15 thousand people a year, 43% of those are children.

Colchester CAP Debt Centre seeks to release people from the prison of poverty and debt. We work in partnership with national charity Christians Against Poverty to provide 3 different services:

CAP Debt Help

A holistic service in situations of unmanageable debt. CAP step in between a client and their creditors, taking a detailed picture of their finances and providing them with a budget as well as a solution to become debt free.

CAP Life Skills

A course designed to help people live well on a low budget – gain practical skills and discover new ways to live for a brighter future.

CAP Money Course

A simple cash-based system that works. Helping people to get to grips with their finances so they can budget, save and prevent debt.

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Unique Support

Our support for clients is unique in many ways. Specifically we attend our clients in their own homes rather than seeing them in an office or talking to them over the telephone. We commonly encounter scenes of distress and confusion with clients who have lost control of their finances and their domestic circumstances. It takes time to help these clients to regain confidence and to bring order back to their lives, but we make that time by introducing them to our wonderful team of volunteer befrienders who help with rehabilitation and who seek to reflect, through their care and patience, God’s grace and his compassion towards all people.

All our help is free and we are looking to help any person who is feeling crushed by debt, irrespective of race, ethnicity, sexuality, religious background or, indeed, a preference not to be involved with religion.

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Our Team

Paula Goddard

Centre Manager

Bec Taylor

Assistant Manager

Ruth Woodman

Debt Coach

Patsi Brown

Service Support Admin & Engagement Leader

Flora Tozowonah

Evangelism & Discipleship Leader

Ben Benest

Prayer Leader

Jonathan Ewbank

Chair of Trustees

Sian Simpkins

Life Skills Manager

Michael Roberts

Trustee

Nigel Drew

Trustee

Mandy Drew

Trustee

Andy Neill

Trustee

Paula Goddard

I am Paula, centre manager for Colchester CAP debt centre. My CAP journey started as a client in 2013 and this ignited my passion for all things CAP, walking the journey with those that have lived similar experiences and the opportunity to be a voice for those often not given the chance to be heard. The thing I love most about my role is being able to see God work miracles in every life we connect with.

Bec Taylor

I am Bec, the new assistant manager for Colchester CAP Debt Centre. I have been aware of CAP and the wonderful work that they do for years and had a small insight into it when my husband became a befriender a few years back.

His work with CAP inspired me and gave me a heart and compassion for those struggling in this area. I love the community of Colchester, having lived my whole life here and I'm excited to be able to serve this community in a new way. I long to see people released from the chains of debt and am excited about this journey that I am about to embark upon.

Ruth Woodman

I’m Ruth and I am very excited to have joined the Colchester CAP Debt Centre team as a debt coach. I have been a supporter of CAP for many years, and have volunteered as a CAP Money coach for my church in Sudbury and seen how it has helped many people to manage their money, live their lives.

Budgeting skills are not enough to help those with more serious debt problems of course, and I am really pleased I can now come alongside people in their journey out of debt. Christians against Poverty has such an excellent, professional and Christ-centred approach and the Colchester CAP Debt Centre is a great bunch of people so I could not be in a better place!

Patsi Brown

Colchester CAP Debt Centre is such a special place to work. We are privileged to witness answers to prayer and real miracles happen. I have worked with CCDC for 7 years and it has taught me so much about God, His heart for the poor, His constant and uncompromising hope, and His willingness to work with us if we will only step out. I highly recommend to anyone to consider getting involved!

Flora Tozowonah

I am Flora, the CCDC Evangelist. Originally from Zimbabwe, I first got involved with this organisation as a member of the prayer team, then as befriender. My heart for the poor, is based on my own life story, where through loss of a spouse life became a challenge for me with my young children. I had walked away from the Christian Faith as it didn’t seem relevant to the situation I had found myself in.

Through Alpha Jesus came into my life. Life took on a new meaning, as I experienced God’s love for myself (about 22years ago). Since then, my identity is that, I am loved by my Father. John 3:16 comes to life for me.

It is my belief that the Good News of salvation, shared in love and compassion, however, whenever, it is shared is never wasted. One also believes that Jesus by His Spirit living in, brings transformation. It did for me.

Ben Benest

I am Ben, befriender, Money Coach, and also, since mid-2021, prayer coordinator for the local CAP team. I have been a supporter of CAP for many years, but got involved with the team 4 or 5 years ago.

From the beginning, we have recognised how important prayer is to us as we support our clients wrestling with the desperate situations they face. We are so grateful as a team for those churches and individuals who pray regularly for us. You are our lifeline. Thank you.

Jonathan Ewbank

Hello. I am Jonathan Ewbank and I am chair of trustees of CCDC. I became a trustee in 2014 when I worshipped at St Leonard's in Lexden. In 2015 I and my wife Alison moved to Long Melford in Suffolk. Despite this move CCDC remains my link with the town I lived in for 30 years.

It has been a privilege to be part of our Debt Centre and to see it flourish, despite challenges like the pandemic. I honestly believe that we are part of God's plan for Colchester and He has been guiding us of late in our new initiatives like Life Skills and in adding to our capacity to help people who are struggling with problem debt.

We are blessed with a fantastic staff team, with wonderful volunteers, great support from churches, individuals and businesses, and we have a dedicated group of trustees. I am a keen bird-watcher and I enjoy walking our two chocolate Labradors. I also carry the burden of being a Colchester United season ticket holder!

Sian Simpkins

Sian has been a CCDC trustee since 2020 . After a career in Whitehall, Sian now works for Chelmsford Diocese and is married to Matt, who is Priest in Charge at St Leonard’s, Lexden.

Sian has been involved with CAP in various places since 2013 when she first volunteered as a befriender. She is a CAP Money Coach and also the Life Skills Manager in Colchester.

Sian is also part of the Children’s and Youth team at St Leonard’s, and sits on the Steering Group of the English for Women project, based in Chelmsford, which supports women from any country for whom English is not their first language.

Michael Roberts

Hello, I’m Michael Roberts I have been serving as a trustee and treasurer of CCDC since 2018. I started volunteering for CCDC as a Befriender and saw the positive impact and hope that our work brings for families.

I was invited to become a trustee in 2018, and it has been exciting to see our local centre grow and increase our services in this time. I attend St Johns Church in Colchester with my wife, Jo, and our 2 children, Zoe and Jaeden. I enjoy watching football and support Liverpool, I also enjoy running, going to the gym, and playing drums.

Nigel Drew MCICM

I’m a founder trustee of Colchester CAP Debt Centre and a Church Pastor with my wife Mandy, for C3 Church in Colchester.

I have also worked in the secular world within finance and risk for over 30 years, the last 21 years for Penguin Random House Publishers. Along with Mandy we have 2 daughters, the oldest being 23 and youngest 21.

My role as Trustee involves me with a number of responsibilities including some of the day to day finance, contracts and HR

Mandy Drew

My name is Mandy Drew and I am married to Nigel Drew with 2 daughters Sarah 23 and Abby 20. I have a heart to see people reach their full God potential and find freedom and contentment through Jesus. I work full time for Colchester Institute as Director of Apprenticeships. I love my job and the people I get to work alongside and lead.

When I’m not busy with work, along with my husband we are the Location Pastors of The C3 Church in Colchester. My role as a trustee of CAP is to support with governance, strategy and leadership.

Andy Neill

We welcome Andy as our newest trustee. Andy has been involved with CAP for many years, he ran the CAP Job Club for a long time as well as being an excellent befriender and part of our previous drop-in service.

Thanks for putting your hand up to volunteer!

We would love to talk to you about opportunities at CCDC. Just pop your details into the form and we'll be in touch with you to discuss your interest further!

About Us

Freeing people in debt and poverty in Colchester since 2013.

What We Do

‘And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’

Unique Support

Our Team

Paula Goddard

Bec Taylor

Ruth Woodman

Patsi Brown

Flora Tozowonah

Ben Benest

Jonathan Ewbank

Sian Simpkins

Michael Roberts

Nigel Drew

Mandy Drew

Andy Neill

Change A Life Today

As long as poverty, injustice & inequality persist, none of us can truly rest. It doesn’t take much to change a life, Get in touch today and start making the difference.

Paula Goddard

Bec Taylor

Ruth Woodman

Patsi Brown

Flora Tozowonah

Ben Benest

Jonathan Ewbank

Sian Simpkins

Michael Roberts

Nigel Drew MCICM

Mandy Drew

Andy Neill

Thanks for putting your hand up to volunteer!