"Christmas can be expensive and stressful. An average household in the UK spends more than £700 extra in December than in other months, according to the Bank of England", says Christians Against Poverty (CAP) money coach Dick Howard.

CAP is a UK charity and Dick says: "Many families will find that every penny counts in January. Rebuilding your finances can help you feel more at ease and lessen the stress of money worries."

A local church is offering free money coaching to help people manage their finances.

Dick and fellow CAP coaches are offering a three-hour course, one on Saturday 18th January 9.30am-12.30 and the other on Tuesday 3rd January 2-5pm at the Dorford Centre. Course participants will learn how to put a budget together, with tips on how to make your money go further and how to be disciplined about spending.

As Dick explains: "The courses are tried and tested. And they are independent – no one is trying to sell you any financial products. Best bit? It's totally free."

Dorchester Poverty Action and Dorchester Foodbank are sponsoring these courses with a £20 Co-op voucher for participants who live in DT1/DT2 postcodes or who are NHS workers. The courses are run by Dorchester Baptist Church using material created by Christians Against Poverty

It's easy to book in. Simply visit www.dorchesterbc.org.uk/cap