What would you like us to tell the new prime minister? 

We’d love to hear from you about what you think we should include in a special letter we’re preparing to send to the new prime minister about local issues we believe should be a priority. 

Read on to find out how you can let us know… 

As Andy Burnham prepares to start work as our new prime minister, we know he will have a huge list of priorities to address as he hopefully hits the ground running. 

But, as a charity that supports local people, we are keen to make sure that the core issues affecting the lives of people across Greater Manchester and Lancashire aren’t lost in the mix. 

With almost one in three children in our area living in poverty right now, thousands of people homeless or at risk of becoming so, and thousands more who are experiencing other forms of discrimination or isolation, the time for talking is over. 

Action must be taken to address some of the core policies and decisions which leave people experiencing challenges that they never thought imaginable – and we’re hoping Andy Burnham will give a commitment to addressing some of them urgently. 

We’re writing to the new prime minister to update him on the situation here in our area, and to remind him of what we’re calling for when it comes to driving change that could transform local people’s lives – and we’d love your help.   

Some of the priorities we’re highlighting include: 

• An increase in the supply of social-rented housing. 
• Local Housing Allowance rates for housing benefit to be unfrozen and set in line with local rents. 
• An end to the benefit cap. 
• A protected legal minimum amount of Universal Credit to cover the cost of essentials. 
• Expansion of free school meals to all primary school children. 
• Extension of the move-on period from asylum support and accommodation. 

Working alongside local people, we regularly talk to them about what’s most important.  We talk about the challenges they are facing.  We help them by walking alongside them as they take actions and transform their lives.  And we adapt our services to meet their changing needs too. 

As we prepare to write to Andy Burnham, we also want to include feedback from others across our region who support our work, feel passionately about what we do, or have thoughts around ways he could make poverty, homelessness, isolation, or discrimination experienced by people in Greater Manchester and Lancashire better. 

We’d love to share comments or stories from people in our area to help highlight the importance of the decisions made by government and how they can dramatically affect or improve lives. 

Perhaps: 

• You feel passionately about taking positive action to make the place you live even better for everyone? 
• Or, you’ve experienced challenging times or know someone who has, and have thoughts about what the prime minister could do to bring about change? 
• You work in a role which means you are in contact with families, children or adults who are experiencing poverty, homelessness, isolation or discrimination and would love Andy Burnham to consider making changes to help? 
• Or, you want to express your support for our work and amplify our calls for change? 

Whatever your thoughts or experiences, we’d love to hear from you so we can include them in our letter of domestic social action priorities.   

Any comments received will be used anonymously. 

Please get in touch if there’s anything you think we should consider including in our letter.  Email: a.taylor@caritassalford.org.uk