Ways to take action – May campaigning update
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“The common good is the sum total of social conditions which allow people to reach their full potential.”
Pope John XXIII
We’re committed to calling for tangible, lasting change – change that enables people to transform their lives with dignity and live with hope.
These regular updates will keep you informed about campaigns and activities calling for change and let you know about ways you can join us in making a difference.
We hope you’ll feel 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.
Webinar for school staff
Our next free webinar for school staff is on the topic of temporary accommodation and homelessness among families.
We’re pleased to be joined by Shared Health Foundation who will be sharing their expertise and providing practical advice to help equip school staff to continue to support children and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
We know from surveying headteachers and senior leaders of Catholic schools across the diocese that housing and homelessness is a significant challenge for families and the school staff supporting them, so are keen for as many schools as possible to join us as we learn more together.
The webinar is on Monday 15 June 2026 at 4pm, and you can sign up by clicking here.
Child poverty – urgent action is still needed
Newly released government statistics show that child poverty remains a pressing issue across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
Almost one in three children in the North West are growing up in poverty, with the region among the worst affected nationally.
Within the Diocese of Salford, child poverty remains a pressing issue. The data shows that eight of the ten parliamentary constituencies with the highest child poverty rates in the North West are in our area. In over half of constituencies locally, more than one in three children are experiencing poverty.
Our own research has shown that poverty shapes children’s everyday lives, affecting school attendance and engagement, housing stability and wellbeing. That’s why, alongside supporting families through our services, we continue to call for change.
Changes we are advocating for include an end to the benefit cap and ensuring free school meals for all primary‑aged children, helping children to learn and thrive, as we believe that no child should have to grow up in poverty.
You can read our full response to the new statistics and how you can help here, and find out more about our campaigning work here.
Free school meals for all – because every child matters
We are part of the ‘No Child Left Behind’ coalition – a national campaign calling for free school meals for all primary-aged children.
Bishop John Arnold has recently shared why we call for this change, reminding us that Catholic Social Teaching and ‘Caritas’ love in action compel us to respond and help shape a society where the wellbeing of people takes priority when decisions are made.
Read more from the Bishop here.
If you’re part of a school or another organisation, consider joining us and hundreds of others who have signed the petition, standing up for change because every child matters.
New protections for renters and further change needed to help prevent homelessness
From the start of May, a number of changes to the private rented sector have come into force through the Renters’ Rights Act.
Changes include an end to section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, limiting rent increases, and a ban on rental bidding. The intention of the legislation is to provide renters with greater security, which we welcome.
However, rights are not enough if homes remain unaffordable. Research shows that fewer than three per cent of privately rented homes across England are affordable for people relying on housing benefit. In practice, this increases the risk of homelessness for too many households, as well as pushing many people into debt and further uncertainty.
This unaffordability is driven largely by Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates that don’t reflect the true cost of renting. Despite rising private rents, LHA rates have been frozen for another year, leaving many people unable to secure or sustain a tenancy.
The latest homelessness statistics highlight the urgent need for change. As of the end of 2025, there were 9,288 children living in temporary accommodation in the areas we cover across Greater Manchester and Lancashire – a number that has risen consistently in recent years. These figures demonstrate the growing number of families who cannot find or keep a safe and suitable home in the private rented sector.
Our message is clear: everyone deserves a safe, secure place to call home. Therefore, as well as greater protection for renters, housing support that reflects the true cost of local rents is desperately needed.
This is why we are calling for LHA rates to be unfrozen and set in line with local rents, so that more people are protected from homelessness and have a fair chance of securing a safe home.
Read more about what the Renters’ Rights Act means for tenants here.
Find out more about how we support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness here.
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