Our work engaging with local MPs
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A big part of our work is campaigning and calling for lasting and meaningful change to address the causes and effects of poverty, homelessness and disadvantage.
We want to ensure that the voices of those who access our services are heard and represented to policymakers.
One of the ways we call for change is through engaging with local Members of Parliament (MPs).
We take the evidence we have from our services, including research we carry out and what we see through our day-to-day work alongside the people who access support from our charity, and use this to inform and influence decision-makers, advocating for policy changes that will help improve people’s lives.
We were pleased to have the opportunity to meet with a number of MPs last year and to have a Minister visit our Cornerstone centre too.
So, what does a meeting with an MP involve?
When we first meet with an MP, we take the time to explain our mission and work, to give them an understanding of how broad our reach is, and the kind of work we’re doing in their community and beyond on a day-to-day basis.
We then explain the issues we’d like to discuss, share real stories about how people accessing our services are affected, and the changes we would like to see.
This might be a change in the law, how policies are implemented, or the attitudes and narratives we see around poverty and disadvantage.
We present the MP with a briefing which summarises the main points we want to get across, alongside some stories from the work we do.
We also hear from the MP about their views on the topics we discuss, their current priorities and issues they are encountering through their constituency work.
When the then Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement visited us, we were delighted that a person who both accesses our services and volunteers with us joined us in person to share their experiences and the changes they would like to see from Government.
What changes have we been calling for in our meetings with MPs?
Much of our engagement with MPs over the last year has focused on child poverty.
In April 2025, we published new research showing a staggering increase in child poverty within Catholic schools across Greater Manchester and Lancashire, and we were pleased to have the opportunity to discuss this with a number of MPs.
We highlighted the pressing need for an end to the two-child benefit limit, the removal of which we were delighted to see announced by the Government at the Autumn Budget last year.
We also discussed our call for free school meals for all and the need for increased funding for schools to provide vital support for children and families.
During the meetings, we also shared wider issues affecting the people we work with, such as community cohesion, racial justice, housing and immigration policies.
What happened after the meetings?
We asked many of the MPs if they would agree to write on our behalf to Ministers to share our concerns and recommendations, particularly in the lead up to the Government publishing their Child Poverty Strategy.
We were grateful that a number of MPs did so, helping us to raise our voice at the highest levels of Government.
A number of MPs also submitted Written Parliamentary Questions we suggested, and these received responses from Ministers. This helps to increase awareness of an issue and plays a part in holding the Government to account.
A first meeting with an MP is the start of what we hope will be a long-term working relationship with them, and we’re really pleased that over the last year we also had continued engagement with MPs we had met with previously, with one MP speaking about our work in Parliament in December.
How can you help?
Read more about our campaigning and advocacy work here, and look out for ways to get involved with our campaigns throughout the year.
A big part of this work is raising awareness of the need for change, so we’re incredibly grateful whenever our news stories or social media posts are shared to help spread the word.
Our work, both in our services and advocating with policymakers, is only possible with your support, so if you can, please consider donating to our work or fundraising for us.
It all makes a difference.
Please consider making a donation if you are able, so that we can continue shining a spotlight on what really matters.
Read more about our work campaigning and calling for change.