Ways to take action – September campaigning update
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“No nation, no society, and no international order can call itself just and humane if it measures its success solely by power or prosperity while neglecting those who live at the margins.”
Pope Leo XIV
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 please get in touch and let us know what you’ve been up to.
Write to your MP to help end homelessness
This autumn, we are calling for an end to homelessness and raising awareness of the changes that are urgently needed to ensure that everyone has access to a safe, secure place to call home.
Too many people in Greater Manchester and Lancashire are experiencing homelessness, including those rough sleeping, staying in temporary accommodation or sofa surfing.
While we welcome the government’s recent announcement of funding for 70,000 social homes, we know that another significant driver of homelessness is the freeze on Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates. Rates have been frozen since 2024, which means that they have not kept pace with rising rent costs.
LHA rates set the maximum amount of housing benefit that someone in private rented accommodation can claim and it is intended to make renting more affordable for people on low incomes.
However, we know that, in reality, fewer than 2 per cent of privately rented homes in England are affordable on the current rates.
This pushes people into homelessness as they struggle to pay their rent, and prevents people already experiencing homelessness from finding somewhere to live.
We regularly engage with MPs from across the region, and now we need your help.
Please take a few minutes to write to your local MP and add your voice to ours to help prevent more people being pushed into homelessness. Together, we are asking the government to unfreeze and uplift LHA rates so that they reflect the true cost of renting.
We know that when we come together and raise our voices, change is possible.
Please get in touch if you need support or have any questions. Email: a.taylor@caritassalford.org.uk.
Learn more about our campaign to tackle homelessness.
Changes to free school meals eligibility
From this September, the provision of free school meals has been expanded to all children in households receiving Universal Credit.
This means that 500,000 more children across the country will be guaranteed a warm, nutritious meal each school day, which we believe will make a significant difference to their health, wellbeing and engagement with learning.
Despite eligibility being expanded, families will need to apply for the meals, and you can find more information about applying here.
While we recognise the impact this change will have, we continue to call for the government to go further and for free school meals to be expanded to all primary-aged children.
Local school leaders tell us that increasing numbers of families are struggling to provide food for their children, including many parents who are working, and free school meals for all would mean that no child is left behind.
Read more here about the changes we call for to help improve the lives of children and families.
Social security and human dignity
We have been reflecting again on how vital access to adequate social security is as something we can all rely on. For any of us, circumstances could change at any time, and it is essential that we have the security of knowing that support will be there when we need it.
This is especially important for disabled people, who very often face additional barriers and extra costs in everyday life. Support such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can make a huge difference, enabling many people to stay in work, meet some of the extra costs that come with having a disability, and participate more fully in their communities.
A strong social security system should reflect the kind of society we want to live in, where the dignity of every person is recognised and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
We believe that people should be treated with compassion and respect, and that support should be adequate, accessible and tailored to people’s needs.
Read more about how we campaign for changes to attitudes and systems, and find out more about our accessibility service.
Helping people as energy costs rise
Many households will see their energy bills increase again from 1 October, when the energy price cap will rise by 4 per cent, equivalent to around £60 per year.
While we have welcomed the Government’s decision to remove VAT from household energy bills from the same date, the increase to the price cap means that many people will still face higher energy bills going into winter.
Our energy advice service continues to provide vital support to people who are struggling with energy costs, helping them to understand their options, reduce their bills and improve their energy efficiency.
We know that advice can make a real difference for households facing financial pressure, and we continue to call for high-quality advice for everyone who needs it.
As many people face difficult choices about how to spend their limited income, particularly as we enter the colder months, high-quality advice and policies that consider those who are most vulnerable are essential.
If you are concerned about your energy bills this winter, get in touch with our team for advice and support.
Read more about our campaigning and the changes we call for here.
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