Gritty new film I, Daniel Blake follows the frustrating journey of a widower, a carpenter, who finds himself without work following a major heart attack but is assessed by the DWP as 'fit for work'.
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) wants everyone to see the film because the character may be fictional but his downward spiral is a daily reality for thousands.
Chief Executive Matt Barlow said: "Go into your local Job Centre or Foodbank and you will meet scores of Daniel Blakes and that should make us very angry but as film director Ken Loach says, we mustn't let it stop at anger.
"The film offers no solution to Daniel's situation but actually there are things that all of us can do – and we call upon everyone to see this film and be stirred into action."
CAP is working with hundreds of churches across the UK helping people escape debt, find employment, manage their money, break addictions and learn essential life skills. In its 20<sup>th year this year, the charity expects to help 20,000 people, most of those on low incomes and many are vulnerable.
One man, on CAP's books, lives in Derbyshire. He has had five heart attacks and is receiving treatment for a brain tumour. His GP has said categorically that he must not work.
Meanwhile, the DWP has assessed him as fit to work so he goes to the Job Centre, which arranges interviews for him, all for manual labour jobs. He is matched with employers who say they won't take him on with such a poor health record.
It's a frustrating merry-go-round but one made so much more bearable by the love of the Church.
Two local fellowships provide him with a variety of prayer and care, food, transport, regular visits from a befriender, the chance to serve at a local drop in where he can see people over tea and biscuits and he gets invites to events and men's breakfasts. All the while, the local CAP centre is tackling his creditors and keeping off the pressure.
Essentially, he has friends.
Another couple, Chris and Wendy in Oxfordshire, were threatened with eviction when poor health prevented both from working and life became a struggle. Thankfully, the local Job Centre was able to refer them to the nearby CAP centre which brought food (the first hot food they had enjoyed in a month). They were supported through a lengthy but ultimately successful DWP appeal and the congregation provided an instant caring community which fuelled their faith. They even were able to get married because the congregation pitched in to give them the wedding they had never been able to afford.
Chris said: "We're coming along nicely and should be debt free in nine months. God's made us millionaires, not in a monetary way; freedom to worship and talk to God with people who do the same. We all help each other."
Matt Barlow said that examples like this show the impact that be achieved through contact with local Christians.
"Is your local Job Centre able to refer to a CAP centre – do you have one? We need to ask what is our church doing for people falling between the cracks in the system then we need to ask, is our church doing enough to show the reality to those in positions of power?"
I, Daniel Blake is in UK cinemas from Friday, October 21. #IDanielBlake #WeareallDanielBlake
