Last week, we were privileged enough to be granted the opportunity to visit Bradford, West Yorkshire; home to the best Onion Bhaji in the world, best Waterstones in the world and best football club in the world but we had an even better reason to be visiting this fine city! We were one of the first organisations to visit the new CAP UK HQ.
New surroundings, Same Organisation
We’d previously visited the old offices, based in a dated mill building in the old part of the City, and the new office space offers completely different surroundings. Situated in the heart of the modern city centre, the new office space is light and spacious and has clearly been designed with the employees’ needs at the centre. It’s a lot more accessible, more energy efficient and (at risk of sounding like Phil Spencer from Location, Location, Location) boasts a phenomenal atrium-style space on the bottom floor, featuring a presentation space for team meetings, pool tables and sofa spaces for staff downtime and 8 (eight!) microwaves to reheat last night’s leftovers.
One thing that is clearly evident is that the change of environment hasn’t resulted in a negative change of culture. Whilst spending time in the many communal areas of the building, the Christ-centred focus of the charity is clear and plays out in the many conversations, embodying the unmistakable love that followers of Jesus have for one another (John 13:35). One of CAP’s core values is that they are ‘united’ and that is evident from spending a morning in the presence of the team. They are one and everyone is treated with respect; no matter their role, no matter whether they have been at CAP 20 years or 20 days. There is something so powerful about a group of believers all striving towards the same aim - ending UK poverty - with such tenacity and dedication.
The Writing is on the Wall
“Daniel 5 Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote.”
In Daniel, we read of King Belshazzar being condemned for the life he’s lived through Daniel’s interpretation of some writing on a wall, hence the phrase ‘the writing is on the wall’. At CAP’s new offices, Jubilee House, writing on the wall is actively encouraged! What’s more, we don’t need an Old Testament prophet to interpret the meaning any more! Areas of the office are painted in whiteboard paint meaning the walls can be doodled upon and simply wiped clean. Mind blown! We hear that there are plans next year to throw each member of the staff into a den of lions as a team-building exercise…
Get Involved
If you’ve checked Christian Jobs’ website over the past 12 months, the chances are you’ll have come across vacancies at Christians Against Poverty as they have been constantly making new hires. It is fantastic to see the charity grow in this way, filling the need in the UK. It is likely that CAP’s services will be needed more and more over the next 12 months as the economic situation in the UK worsens.
There are various ways that you can support the work of Christians Against Poverty. CAP are expecting to make more hires over the coming month, so if you feel led to work for CAP, keep an eye on their vacancies.
There are, of course, other ways to support the amazing work of Christians Against Poverty. Have a look at the ‘Get Involved’ section of their website to read more or read our Q&A with Justine Barnes (Head of People Operations).