Our school service: supporting children, young people and families at Christmas
Our teams across all of our services are busy preparing to support people through the Christmas period.
Here, Helen, who leads our school service team, tells us more about how they are helping children, young people and families locally…
What does your role at Caritas involve?
Caritas typically focuses on providing support to vulnerable communities through various services, including food assistance, housing support, and through supporting children and families within our school communities throughout Greater Manchester and Lancashire. Our staff work hard to ensure that those in need receive essential resources and emotional support.
What is Christmas like in your services?
During Christmas, our staff provide direct support to children and families to meet the needs identified.
We also provide support to families with grant applications and will assist schools in accessing support from a range of providers to help in accessing Christmas toys and gifts for their children and families too.
How do you support local people at this time of year?
Our staff support children and families through the work they undertake in schools across the diocese by the provision of advice and guidance on a wide range of issues.
On a more practical level, we can access grants to help families in times of need; we can signpost to other support agencies for debt, housing, and energy advice; offer food parcels where needed and so much more.
Are you seeing more people who need support coming to your services?
Yes, most definitely we have seen a rise in the number of people seeking assistance, especially during the challenging economic times we are experiencing right now. This trend highlights the importance of community support and outreach.
What do you wish people would know or what myths would you like to change about your services or the people that access them?
One common myth is that those who seek help are simply looking for handouts. In reality, many individuals are facing systemic issues and are actively seeking ways to improve their situations. Educating the public about the complexities of poverty can help change these perceptions.
Why are appeals like the Advent appeal so important?
Appeals like the Advent appeal are crucial as they raise awareness and funds to support ongoing programmes. They help ensure that organisations such as ours, can continue to provide essential services throughout the year.
What would you say to people considering supporting Caritas Salford this Christmas?
For those considering supporting Caritas this Christmas, I would emphasise the direct impact their contributions can make. Every donation could help provide vital resources to those in need, fostering a sense of community and compassion during the festive season.
If you’ve not yet seen our Bee There Advent appeal animation – you can watch it below now, and please donate if you can.
Every penny really does help us support more local people like those Helen’s team work alongside in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
Thank you.
To find out more about this year’s #BeeThere appeal, take a look at this page on our website: www.caritassalford.org.uk/beethere