Keeping hope alive in 2026…

As 2026 begins, Patrick O’Dowd, our director, looks ahead to what the new year has in store here at Caritas….  

Hope. 

That’s something that underpins all of our work here at Caritas. 

We’re here to support people at a time of acute crisis and for the long-term too, and that can only be achieved by many factors coming together – including hard work, empathy, compassion and hope. 

2025 and the Catholic Jubilee Year, which was focussed on being pilgrims of hope, may have drawn to a close, but at our charity we continue to bring to life many of the key themes and messages that were central to last year’s activity. 

This is especially true at the start of a new year when, for many of us, we reflect on what has gone before and look ahead to what the coming months might bring. 

Keeping hope alive and taking tangible actions to help bring about change will continue to be central to what we do in 2026. 

We were heartened last year following our child poverty campaign by changes such as the two-child benefit limit being lifted but there’s still more work to do. 

With more than one in three children still living in poverty in the areas in Greater Manchester and Lancashire we work within, we won’t stop until local families have the support they need to transform their lives with dignity. 

Hundreds of people are sleeping outside in the cold every night.  Thousands of others don’t have a permanent, safe place to call home.  Some are ripped from their country due to the horrors of war, suddenly displaced and wanting to start a new life by fully contributing to their new local community.  Many children and adults don’t know where their next meal will come from.  

And, because of that, alongside our services supporting people at a time they need it most, we will continue advocating and shouting loudly for change.  We make no apologies for being the noisy neighbour.  We’re committed to engaging with key policy makers, and others with influence to improve situations for people in Greater Manchester and Lancashire until everyone has a life where their dignity is upheld and they can live well.  

We know we have big ambitions but we never forget that every statistic isn’t just a number. It’s a real life – it’s a neighbour, a friend, a colleague, and they need support right now.  

By keeping and spreading hope we can continue to drive forward change that really does transform lives. 

There are lots of exciting things coming up at Caritas that we can’t wait to share with you.  From developments in our services to new activities and events you can be part of. 

The cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on local people and it means that demand for our services has increased again over the last twelve months as a result. 

The costs impact us as a charity too, whether to keep food on the tables at our day centres, or heating on in our accommodations for people experiencing homelessness, there are so many rising prices that affect the provision of our work. 

But, we’re always incredibly grateful that people in our local communities continue to support us as much as they can, helping to spread hope and joy and ensuring that children, young people and adults have what they need not just to survive but to thrive. 

I’ll look forward to sharing more about our ambitious plans for the coming year, and would love to hear from you if you have any ideas about ways you might want to get involved too. 

Thanks to everyone in the wider Caritas community that supports our work. Whether you’re part of your local parish, in a school, business or community group, or are an individual or family that helps us in our work, we’re really appreciative of all you do. 

Every time you donate, share our news, spread the word on social media, or engage with us in other ways you’re helping as we try to keep hope alive and support local people to transform their lives for the long-term.   

Thank you and all best wishes for 2026. 

Patrick  O’Dowd, director of Caritas Salford