Ways to take action – June policy update
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“Each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor, and for enabling them to be fully a part of society.” Pope Francis
Our charity is committed to calling for tangible and sustainable change which will help people transform their lives with dignity and live with hope. We campaign for changes to policies, systems and attitudes, and work to raise awareness of the barriers facing people accessing our services.
Our regular updates like this one will keep you informed about campaigns and activities calling for change, and let you know about ways you can 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.
Rising child poverty confirmed by new data
Following the release of our report revealing a staggering increase in child poverty within local Catholic schools and the impact of this on children’s outcomes, we are continuing to call for the changes urgently needed to address this crisis.
The new local child poverty statistics released this month by Loughborough University and the End Child Poverty Coalition, of which we are a member, confirm what our research found – that more and more children and families are being pulled into poverty all the time, and there are now 4.5 million children growing up in poverty across the UK.
Nine out of the ten constituencies in the North West of England with the highest proportion of children living in poverty are in the territory of the Diocese of Salford, with the highest child poverty rate found in Manchester Rusholme where over half of all children are growing up in poverty.
As we await the publication of the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy which, according to recent reports, has been delayed until the autumn, we continue to advocate for policies that give every child the opportunity to thrive.
One particular policy that we believe urgently needs to change is the two-child benefit cap. It is unacceptable that every day, 109 more children are pulled into poverty by this policy, and it must be scrapped.
While we call on those in Westminster to make changes that will benefit children and families, we can all still make a positive impact where we are. Take a look at our child poverty campaign page to find out how you can get involved.
Whether it’s sharing our report or social media posts, contacting your local MP about the findings of our research or the experiences of your local community, donating to our work or volunteering at our services, your support truly makes a difference.
Free training session – Parishes tackling poverty: hope through action
Following a successful session in Lancashire, we’re pleased to be bringing our free, bespoke training in partnership with Resolve Poverty to Greater Manchester.
This training is for parishioners, clergy, school staff and anyone who wants to learn more about the challenges facing people experiencing poverty and how they can take steps to tackle it.
It will be particularly helpful to those in a parish or school role who might be likely to support or engage with people experiencing poverty. It will help attendees to understand how they can offer support in their parish and wider community, equipping them with practical tools and knowledge of best practice.
So, if you’re looking to develop further as a missionary parish in this Jubilee year, join us on Saturday 21st June, 10am to 12.30pm at Our Lady’s Church in Moss Side.
Find out more and reserve your free place now.
If you have any questions, please contact Matt Yates at m.yates@caritassalford.org.uk.
Reforms for renters to help end homelessness
One of the changes we are calling for as part of our work to address housing security and homelessness is reforms for renters. As the Renters’ Rights Bill continues through Parliament and is debated in the House of Lords, here’s a reminder of what needs to change to reduce the risk of homelessness for so many and help people accessing our services to transform their lives with dignity.
We meet many people for whom the cost of a private-rented home leaves them unable to pay for essentials such as food and household bills, and for some even results in homelessness. Therefore, we support the limiting of rent increases in the Renters’ Rights Bill.
However, for people claiming Local Housing Allowance as part of their benefits, the majority of homes will still be unaffordable even with this change, as fewer than 3 per cent of homes across the country are affordable based on Local Housing Allowance rates. This is leaving too many people without a home, and we are advocating for the rates to be uprated regularly in line with local rents.
We are also calling for a higher quality of rented homes, with landlords taking responsibility for repairs and improvements to poor conditions. In recent months, we’ve seen an increase in people needing our support in advocating with landlords to carry out necessary repairs, with inadequate housing conditions significantly impacting the quality of life of too many families and individuals.
We believe that having a safe, secure place to call home is essential to human dignity, so we will continue to shout loudly for these changes. As the words of St John Paul II remind us, “A house is much more than a roof over one’s head. It is a place where a person creates and lives out his or her life.”
Celebrating the contributions of people seeking sanctuary
This month, communities across the UK will be coming together to mark Refugee Week, where the contributions of refugees and people seeking safety are recognised and celebrated.
As we celebrate all that people seeking sanctuary bring to our communities, we want to speak out against the discriminatory and damaging anti-refugee rhetoric which has sadly become so prevalent in society. Each person seeking sanctuary in this country is an individual with inherent worth and much to bring to enrich our communities. We see this every day through people both accessing and volunteering at our services, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to journey together.
It’s crucial that legislation around refugees and asylum is not based in divisive narratives, and that we have a fair and efficient system which ensures that all people seeking safety are treated with dignity and not penalised for seeking asylum. You can read more about our response to recent proposed legislation here.
To find out more about our policy and advocacy work and ways you can get involved, visit https://www.caritassalford.org.uk/about/policy-and-advocacy/