Ways to take action – August campaigning update
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“Justice, however, concerns not only the behaviour of individuals, but also the way in which the structures of society are conceived and organised.”
Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica humanitas
We call for meaningful, lasting change that enables people to transform their lives with dignity.
We publish regular updates like this to raise awareness, keep you informed about campaigns and activities, and to let you know how you might be able to get involved.
Hopefully you’ll be inspired to actively participate and make a difference in your community.
We’d love to hear from you if you do, so get in touch and let us know what you’ve been up to…
What we hope to see from the new mayor of Greater Manchester
A new mayor, Bev Craig, has recently been elected in Greater Manchester, and we believe that this brings an opportunity for renewed purpose in addressing some of the challenges facing people experiencing poverty, homelessness and disadvantage.
As the new mayor sets out their agenda and gets to work, we’re highlighting the key areas that require urgent attention in order to help people transform their lives, and to help create a region where everyone can flourish.
We have outlined the action we are hoping to see around housing and homelessness, free school meals and mental health support, and you can read more about what we’re calling on Bev Craig to do here.
A key part of our work is engaging with policymakers, including the mayor, and we hope to be able to work with them going forward to share some of the experiences of the people accessing our services and to see sustainable change happen.
Engaging with the new government
Following new prime minister Andy Burnham’s first policy announcements, we welcomed the Government’s decision to remove VAT from household electricity bills and its commitment to end rough sleeping.
We know from our work across Greater Manchester and Lancashire that people experiencing poverty and those who are ill or disabled are often worst affected by high energy costs, so measures to help reduce bills are a positive step.
We also see the profound impact that rough sleeping has on people’s lives, so we’re encouraged by the prime minister’s ambition to tackle this injustice. As part of this, we continue to call for greater investment in social and affordable housing to ensure that everyone can have a safe, secure place to call home.
While we welcome these first steps, we know there is a great deal of work to be done, and we are engaging with Cabinet Ministers and MPs to ask for them to keep people at the heart of policymaking and ensure that those most affected are heard, valued and acted upon.
Why change is needed
Our campaigning is rooted in the voices and experiences of the people we support, and we work to ensure that decision-makers understand the realities facing local communities. The stories below show why the changes we are calling for are so important:
“I was living on other people’s sofas before I went to the Caritas young parent accommodation. I was pregnant and have had anxiety and depression, as well as previous domestic abuse.
“Moving to the accommodation gave me a safe place to live, where I could try therapy and learn new things.
“I passed a parenting assessment, and it meant I could live on my own and keep my baby safe. The team at Caritas were great and supported me to move us into our own house. They even helped me purchase furniture and other things we needed.
“I’m hoping to go to college when my baby is a bit older.”
“I’ve lived on the streets for a really long time and when I went to Caritas for help, I had just been diagnosed with a terminal illness. I was really underweight, and finding things really hard.
“Your team helped me speak to lots of people involved in looking after me and agreed that I can stay until I need special medical care.
“Thank you for all your support. I appreciate it. I know wouldn’t have survived if I’d stayed on the streets.”
The Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026
We have been following the government’s recently published Immigration and Asylum Bill, and we are concerned by proposals that could keep more families apart, reduce protection for survivors of modern slavery, and require some people granted protection to repay up to £10,000 for support received while seeking asylum.
The Bill also proposes a new capped safe route for refugees through a community sponsorship model. While we welcome the introduction of an additional safe route for people seeking sanctuary, it’s essential that schemes are properly funded and that those resettling in the UK are safeguarded and supported as they integrate into local communities.
In recent years, we have seen a number of laws introduced which remove protections and reduce certainty for people seeking sanctuary in this country. We continue to call for an approach that upholds the dignity of every person and protects the most vulnerable.
Our advocacy is rooted in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching which teaches us to uphold human dignity, and Pope Leo reminds us in Magnifica humanitas that migrants and refugees are “people with dignity, resources and dreams, who have the right to be treated with respect and to ask to become active members of the societies that welcome them.”
Read more about our campaigning and the changes we call for here.
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