budget. save. spend.
money:course
Run the CAP Money Course
The CAP Money Course is a practical tool for the Church, and is blended with CAP’s passion for social action and evangelism.
As financial illiteracy is a major cause of debt and poverty, the CAP Money Course is an integral part of CAP’s vision to empower the local church to tackle poverty in its community.
John Kirkby
Founder & International Director
Prevention is better than a cure
In a society where money has a profound impact on everyone’s lives and the majority of people worry about their finances1, it is vital for everyone to get to grips with some back-to-basics money management skills. With over 2,500 references to money in the Bible, it’s clear that God considers our attitudes towards finances important too.
As a response to the deepening debt crisis in the UK, we developed the CAP Money Course in January 2008. The course now helps over 10,000 people a year worldwide avoid unmanageable debt by organizing their finances well.
The CAP Money Course is a revolutionary money management course that gives participants the opportunity to learn skills that have a lasting impact on their finances.
The course now helps over 10,000 people a year worldwide
1. 50% of Canadians say they worry about money.
Conference Board of Canada Statistic, 2013.
The need for
financial education in Canada
Why the CAP
Money Course is the answer
42% of Canadians indicated they would have difficulty making ends meet if their pay cheque was delayed by only a week.1
Did you know that in 2015, personal debt in Canada reached 163%?2 That means that for every $1.00 we earn in disposable income, we owe $1.63.
Keeping track of money is hard enough.
How much harder is it if you don’t know how to budget? According the Financial Post, lack of financial literacy causes problems such as poorly managed debt and lack of retirement savings.3
They say prevention is better than a cure, and the CAP Money Course is our greatest weapon against debt. With our country reliant on debit and credit cards, the CAP Money Course helps put the value back into cash and puts people in control of their finances. The simple principles of how to budget, save and spend wisely are put into practice to help CAP Money Course participants manage their money.
When you run the CAP Money Course in your church, you will benefit from professional financial education resources that will allow you to:
• Build meaningful relationships with people in your community.
• Show the love of God and share the gospel in a relevant way.
• Engage members of your congregation in practical and effective local mission.
• See people take control of their finances, rather than allow their finances to control them.
$20,967
$1.5 trillion
average household debt (excluding mortgage) in Canada4
National household debt in Canada (including mortgages)4
1. Canadian Payroll Association; 2013.
2. Statistics Canada, March 2015.
3. The Finanacial Post, April 2014.
4. Equifax Canada, March 2015.
of participants would recommend the CAP Money Course to others.
98%
How it works
The CAP Money Course is easy to get started and runs with relatively little time commitment and cost. Trained CAP Money Coaches from your church will run the course over 2-3 sessions. Courses usually run over three evenings, but they can be adapted to suit the environment.
The coaches will use the CAP Money Course DVD and interactive sessions to help participants gain control of their finances and learn how to budget.
A typical course
• Introduction.
• How to build a good budget.
• Balancing a budget.
• How the CAP Money system works.
• Using cash.
• Importance of savings.
• Maintaining a workable budget.
• Dealing with debt.
• Summary.
Additional sessions
People from all walks of life will attend your courses, which is why we’ve designed extra sessions to suit everyone!
• Biblical • Couples • Family
• Self-employed • Retirement
1 2 3
week
week
week
more money is spent when people pay by card rather than cash.
Building a budget
A workable balanced budget is vital in taking control of money. Participants see exactly what they’re spending and how to prioritise it, as well as where they could save.
Using cash
Using cash for everyday expenses is counter-cultural, but has many advantages. Participants are challenged to stick to their budget using just cash, which adds value to purchases and makes it easier to see where their money is going.
The CAP Money system
The CAP Money system is a practical way of sticking to a budget. The system uses three accounts so participants can ensure their money is going towards the things that matter.
CAP Money Plus
An extra service for participants who still can’t afford essential living costs or meet contractual repayments on debts, and need extra support to work towards freedom from debt.
2 3 1
18%
$
$
When you partner with us to run the CAP Money Course, we will provide your church with:
• All you need to run the course, including training, the course DVD, a CAP Money Coach guide, and participant workbooks.
• Ongoing support for your CAP Money Coaches from the team at head office.
• Ongoing access for coaches and participants to online budgeting tools.
• Access to our telephone and email based debt counselling service, CAP Money Plus, via the online budgeting tools.
• A speaker to launch the CAP Money Course at a service in your church.
What CAP provides
Over 130 churches trained Over 2000 participants since 2013
Recruiting your team
Money Coaches will need to:
A great team of CAP Money Coaches will help facilitate the course and support the participants as they work their way through it, while representing your church in your local community.
Just one person can run a CAP Money Course in your church, but we recommend a minimum of two CAP Money Coaches to start with. When choosing volunteers, it is worth recruiting people with a range of skills (e.g. one person may feel comfortable presenting, another may be great at making people feel at ease). A combination of skills will help the course run smoothly and effectively.
• Be comfortable and confident working with people.
• Be happy to lead in an informal teaching environment.
• Have a basic understanding of financial principles.
• Feel comfortable sharing their own faith.
• Have a good grasp of their own personal finances.
• Be of good character and integrity.
• Sign a CAP Money Coach Agreement.
Launch talk
Hosting a launch talk is vital to the success of the CAP Money Course in your church. A CAP Speaker will visit your church to inspire your congregation about the CAP Money Course,
encouraging people to attend the course and invite others to join them. The launch talk will also inspire your congregation about the wider work of CAP, giving them an opportunity to provide prayer and financial support.
• At least one CAP Money Coach.
• Prayer and support.
• A room with AV facilities.
• Refreshments.
You need:
How much does it cost?
$
To run the CAP Money Course in your church we ask for a monthly contribution of $30/mth. This includes training for two CAP Money Coaches per year, 10 participant workbooks, and access to CAP’s telephone-based debt counselling service.
10 11
Kellie’s story Budget,
save, spend.
Before CAP, I was struggling financially, so when I heard about the CAP Money Course, I booked myself on. Watching the DVD and hearing other people’s stories gave me hope. I wrote everything down in my budget and started doing the cash part straightaway. I felt really empowered and able.
When Katie, the CAP Money Coach, first offered to pray, I didn’t feel worthy enough to be prayed for. Then on the third session, I gave my life to God. Since then, I’ve been to church every week and I love it!
Through the CAP Money Course, I managed to save up to buy a car, which I paid for in cash. Last year, I paid for Christmas totally up front. I didn’t borrow a penny – it was awesome! I have also been saving for camping holidays with the church. My budget allows me to see what I can afford. CAP has changed my life!
Katie and Kellie
What to do next
CAP Debt Centres
Book onto a Church Open Day at capcanada.org/openday
Inspired to run the CAP Money Course in your church?
Contact us at 289-684-9181 / [email protected] Sign up for a CAP Money Course training day at [email protected]
CAP Job Clubs
Order an information pack at capcanada.org/jobclubs
CAP Release Groups
Order an information pack at capcanada.org/releasegroups
Want to book a CAP speaker for your church now?
Call our CAP Speaker team at 289-684-9181
Other ways to partner with CAP
If you’re not sure which CAP service is right for your church, just give our Church Partnership team a call at 289-684-9181
capcanada.org/moneycourse
t: 289-684-9181 e: [email protected]
Registered Office: 383 Hughson Street North, Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 4N2 Corporate Name: Christians Against Poverty Canada
Corporation Number: 822846-9; Business Number: 841397532 Charitable Number: 84139 7532 RR0001
Copyright © 2015 Christians Against Poverty Canada. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced for any purpose without first obtaining written permission from Christians
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