A NEW partnership to help disabled people in financial hardship has been launched between a leading disability employment specialist and a Bradford-based debt counselling charity.

Remploy and Christians Against Poverty will offer people with debt problems free support from the award-winning charity that has won plaudits from, among others, TV’s Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis.

Michael Bishop, Remploy’s strategic engagement director, said: “More than a quarter of families with a disabled person are in poverty so we know that both finances and employment are huge issues.

“We are delighted to be partnering with CAP, which offers free, face-to-face debt help through a series of home visits, meaning that the service is particularly accessible.”

Since 2010, Remploy has found more than 100,000 mainstream employment for people with a range of physical, sensory and learning disabilities, mental health conditions and other disadvantages.

Dawn Stobart, CAP director of external affairs, said: “It’s great to see our two organisations come together with our shared vision for transforming lives.

“Our own research shows that we’re already helping thousands of people with physical disabilities, mental health problems and learning disabilities every year. Our hope is that a recommendation from Remploy

Now in its 20th year, CAP’s latest client report shows the charity helped nearly 13,000 people become debt free in 2015 by prioritising essential livings costs - more than any previous year.

Matt Barlow, the charity’s UK chief executive, said clients seeking help had an average debt of around £14,000, six per cent higher than in 2014.

He said: “Two thirds of our clients sacrificed meals and just over a third report that they had thought about or attempted suicide as a way out before our help.

“With just over half of clients living below the poverty line, it is not surprising that low income remained the top reason for debt in 2015. Mental health, relationship breakdown,

unemployment and addiction were also significant factors contributing for many in their spiral into financial difficulty.

“Despite this stark reality, our services have had a transformative impact on thousands of individual lives.”

In addition to the success in debt support, CAP saw 29 per cent of its Job Club members find work, while more than 11,000 people were helped to take control of their finances through its money management courses.

Mr Barlow said the charity plans to extend its range of services in 2016 with a vision of having 1,000 services by 2021.