A Bradford debt-counselling charity is taking its message of hope to Westminster tomorrow in the wake of Chancellor George Osborne’s severe emergency budget.

The Christians in Parliament event, intended to explore the role of the church in relieving poverty, will include a talk by John Kirkby, who founded Bradford based Christians Against Poverty (CAP) in 1996.

The charity has 131 centres based at churches across the UK offering a free service to help people suffering poverty through debt.

As well as centres, more than 600 churches have been trained by CAP to deliver courses in their communities which help people to draw up a family budget and stick to it.

The conference will take place in the Speaker’s State Apartments and will include a talk and question-and-answer session with Mr Kirkby, who began the charity from his home in Great Horton with a donation of just £10.

Mr Kirkby, who now lives in Shipley, said: “It is a great honour to be asked to Westminster to speak about poverty in the UK and how the church is increasingly active in relieving people’s suffering and getting them back on track.

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

Every month the charity helps around 400 new families toward a debt-free future with its free service, which is for everyone – not just Christians.

Earlier this year the charity announced plans to create 150 new jobs in Bradford as part of a major expansion of its headquarters, to cope with huge demand for its services from families hit by the recession.

CAP already has 200 people working at the refurbished Jubilee Mill, behind Bradford Cathedral, but has now bought a disused school in nearby Jermyn Street, which it is converting into offices for a further 150 employees.