Many of your readers, who watched BBC1’s hard-hitting documentary on child poverty, “Poor Kids” (Tuesday, June 8), will be feeling very sad for the families involved and asking: “What can be done?”

Sadly, the programme showed what we already know to be true: for some, UK poverty is a hard reality.

Thankfully, the local church is very active in this area, supporting and speaking up for those in need.

Debt counselling charity Christians Against Poverty, which has local centres in Exmouth and Exeter, sees families under enormous pressure that have either resorted to debt or seen it spiral, or who have suffered sudden changes in circumstances that have knocked them off course.

In our latest client survey, well over half of those with children said their debt affected their ability to provide for them, and a third said they were unable to give them three meals a day.

If you want to find out more about our work locally, support what we do or see if we can help you with spiralling debts with our free, professional and caring service, visit www.capuk.org or call 0800 328 0006.

John Graver

CAP Centre Manager for Exmouth.