Have you seen our brand new research on child poverty in local schools, showing the staggering increase in children living in poverty in our area?
In 2025 this shouldn’t still be happening.
Will you please pledge your support and add your voice to ours now?
We’re calling for urgent action after carrying out exclusive new research which has shown a staggering increase in child poverty within Catholic schools in Greater Manchester and Lancashire over the last three years.
42 per cent of head teachers and other school leaders said that more than half of the children in their school are affected by poverty related issues, with half of those responding stating that poverty affects more than 75 per cent of their pupils.
This has a direct impact on the educational outcomes of pupils, as well as their health, wellbeing and future.
Schools are on the frontline in communities across the area every day, but at a time of overstretched public services, particularly social care and mental health support, schools are increasingly stepping in to fill the gaps.
As one headteacher said: “If not us, then who?”
Pledge your support by adding your name now
With more than one in three local children going to school with empty tummies, we’re calling for urgent action to end child poverty.
More than 333,000 babies, children and young people in the area we operate within in Greater Manchester and Lancashire are experiencing poverty right now.
Latest local authority homelessness statistics from March
2025 report that 8,855 children are living in temporary accommodation too.
These children do not know whether they will continue to attend the same school with their friends this term, or where they will celebrate Christmas with their family.
As the crisis deepens and local children are facing acute crisis, will you please add your name now and join us as we call for urgent change?
We want a world where no child should have to live in poverty.
Everyone deserves to live happily and with dignity in a safe, secure, supported environment, whatever their age – but especially the youngest in our communities.
We want key decision makers to take urgent action to find a resolution around the child poverty crisis in our area now, including by:
- Ending the two-child limit preventing parents from receiving Universal Credit and tax credits for more than two children in a family
- Ensuring free school meals for all primary-aged children
- Increasing funds for mental health and SEND provision in schools
- Providing temporary accommodation near to children’s schools and notifying school when a family is placed there
Scroll down now to find out other ways you can help too…
Demand for our services supporting families experiencing poverty and acute crisis in the area continues to rise significantly.
Can you please help us support as many as possible?
Scroll down to find out more about other ways you can take action to help children locally.
And, if you’re able, please could you make a donation to support our services that work alongside children, young people and families in Greater Manchester and Lancashire?
Why your support matters
Any of us could experience poverty at any time.
We work alongside families from many different communities and backgrounds – families who despite every effort are still unable to guarantee food for their children and babies each day, a safe place to stay or a warm, comfortable bed to sleep in.
We work alongside these families to help them not just at this time of acute crisis, but also for the longer term as they transform their own lives with dignity.
However you choose to support, whether big or small, it can make a huge difference. Our latest annual report shows just some of the ways we’ve been there for local people recently.
How to get involved
There are lots of ways you can help:
- Add your name now to pledge your support as we call for an urgent end to child poverty
- Read and share our report as much as you can to raise awareness and call for change
- Download our free resources below which are full of ways you can take action in your community
- Donate or take part in a Caritas Every Step challenge to support local services
- Share our posts or news stories or join our Caritas events and activities or take a look at the services we provide and signpost people who may benefit
- Volunteer with our teams to help people locally.
And please do get in touch if you have any more ideas.
Where your money goes
It costs around £12,000 per day to provide the level of service and support being delivered in Caritas projects across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
Which means that everyone who needs it is able to access urgent practical help required, as well as any advice and support that will help them for the long term.
Every single donation matters because it means nobody is turned away or left behind.
These are just some examples of how your donation could be used to provide critical support – right now – or help someone begin to transform their own life with dignity.
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£15could provide a birth and new parent starter kit such as nappies, wet wipes, baby outfit and a snuggly hat
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£35could provide professional advice and support to people at times of acute crisis
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£50could provide hot shower facilities for 70 of the most vulnerable people in our local communities
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£157could provide a weekly food and essentials shop for a family experiencing crisis
“I would not have got through this without all your help. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me and my family.”
Mum accessing our young parent accommodation service
Resources
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Pledge your support to end child poverty poster
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Pledge your support to end child poverty postcard
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Caritas School Service Leaflet
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Bishop’s Fund application form
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Caritas Impact Report
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Your guide to becoming a volunteer at Caritas Salford
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Become a Caritas Parish Rep Leaflet
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Prayers for children and families experiencing poverty
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Every Step Fundraising Pack
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Every Step Certificate
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Every Step Lancashire Sponsored Walk Information Pack
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An end to the two-child benefit limit: Our response
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Supporting families in North Manchester and beyond
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Bishop John Arnold on our latest child poverty report
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Child poverty in schools: why there’s still hope
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Urgent action needed to address child poverty in local schools
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Exclusive research: Staggering increase in child poverty locally
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Fancy running for team Caritas?
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How you can help challenge poverty in your community
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Free signposting resources for your local community