Ways to take action – June campaigning update
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“Justice demands that we transform the structures that give rise to oppression.”
St Oscar Romero
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...
Calling for an end to child poverty
This month, we are continuing to highlight the devastating impact of child poverty on too many children and families in our local area and are calling for the policy changes that are urgently needed to help address this crisis.
According to statistics recently published by the Government, almost one in three children in the North West are growing up in poverty. That’s one of the highest rates in the country.
Eight of the ten parliamentary constituencies with the highest child poverty rates in the North West are in our diocese in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, demonstrating how child poverty remains deeply entrenched across our communities.
This is not just about statistics, but the real lives of local children and families. Our evidence shows that poverty has a serious impact on children’s lives and opportunities, including their physical and mental health, self-esteem, and ability to engage with learning.
One headteacher told us, “Poverty is linked with so many other issues that build significant barriers to learning – children have no headspace for learning because there are often so many other things going on in their lives.”
We have recently re-surveyed headteachers of Catholic schools within the Diocese of Salford and their responses confirm that poverty continues to increase in school communities across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
93 per cent of headteachers responding to our most recent survey said that the number of children in their school who are growing up in poverty has increased over the past year, with a third of all respondents describing the increase as significant.
Some of the changes we know would make a tangible difference to many children and families living in poverty include:
- An end to the benefit cap.
- Free school meals for all primary-aged children.
- A protected minimum amount of Universal Credit to cover essential living costs.
- The unfreezing and uprating of Local Housing Allowance rates so that housing support reflects local rents.
We continue to engage with local decision-makers, including MPs, to highlight the experiences of local people and advocate for change.
There are lots of ways that you can help us as we work to see an end to child poverty. Click here to find out more.
Your support truly matters, and together we can make a difference.
Standing with people seeking safety
Refugee Week takes place each June, and it offers an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of people seeking safety in our communities, while reflecting on how we are called to respond with compassion and solidarity.
Many of the people we work alongside who are settling in Greater Manchester and Lancashire never imagined they would be forced from their homes, having to start again in a new place, often separated from loved ones and familiarity.
There is a lot of noise and division in the media and in our communities about migration, asylum seekers and refugees, but Catholic Social Teaching reminds us that every single person has inherent dignity and worth.
Pope Leo’s first encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, released last month, highlights this message. He writes that migrants “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.”
Alongside challenging the systems and narratives that create barriers to safety and belonging, we also want to celebrate all the ways that people seeking sanctuary enrich our Caritas services and local communities.
Keep an eye out this month for our social media and news stories, and take a look at all the ways you can get involved.
You can also read more about the changes we call for to help people rebuild their lives and promote dignity for all seeking safety.
Too many people without a safe place to call home
Homelessness continues to be a significant issue across Greater Manchester and Lancashire, and too many people do not have a safe or secure place to call home, including those who are forced to rough sleep, stay in temporary accommodation or sofa-surf.
According to the most recent data, 424 people were counted sleeping rough across the areas we cover during March this year, and sadly, we know from our experience that these figures are a considerable underestimate.
This figure also represents a ten per cent increase compared with the same period last year, so the need for change is urgent, and action must be taken.
Behind these statistics are real people with real lives and stories. We meet people every day who have no choice but to sleep rough, and we know that homelessness is often a long-term and recurring experience.
People accessing our services tell us of the challenges they face just to find somewhere to sleep, constantly feeling unsafe and in fear, and we’re reminded that homelessness could happen to any one of us.
Our work continues to highlight the need not only for immediate support, but for long-term, systemic change as well. Some of the policy changes we call for to address both the causes and consequences of homelessness include:
- The unfreezing and uprating of Local Housing Allowance rates for housing benefit, to be set in line with local rents.
- An increase in the supply of social-rented and genuinely affordable housing, including accessible homes.
- Ensuring every person at risk of rough sleeping is accommodated the same day while homelessness applications are assessed.
For school staff, we are hosting a webinar on 15 June 2026 on the topic of homelessness and temporary accommodation. More details can be found here.
You can help support people experiencing homelessness by donating or fundraising, volunteering your time, raising awareness of the changes we call for, or simply offering kindness and a smile to those you see on the streets.
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