History

Community Money Advice became a charity in 2003 to help churches and other local organisations to set up money advice centres. But the history really begins in 1997, with the setting up of the Community Debt Advice Centre in Burgess Hill.

At the time, there were no other christian debt advice organisations in the country, and volunteers had to learn how to set up and run a centre on their own. Once the Burgess Hill centre was up and running, enquiries starting coming in from all over the country from groups wanting advice on starting their own centres.

In 2000 as part of a Newfrontiers initiative called Act 2000, a series of booklets were commissioned on social action projects, including a booklet called 'Setting Up a Debt Advice Centre'. Following the publication of that booklet it became clear that there was a need for a separate organisation to handle the growing demand for help in setting up centres and training volunteers.

Community Money Advice gained charitable status in 2003. Operating from Shropshire, CMA has grown from having just two affiliate centres in 2003, to over 95 in 2010.

Looking to the future, CMA is currently implementing an ambitious three year plan to support the accelerating growth in demand for debt advice services, exacerbated by the Credit Crunch.