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Salford: Nearly a quarter of a million children live in poverty


Source: Caritas Salford

Caritas Salford is calling for urgent action, following new figures which show almost a quarter of a million children in the Diocese living in poverty. The charity, which is launching its Summer Appeal by sharing the shocking extent of child poverty in each of the local authority areas covered by the geography of the Diocese of Salford, is urging Government to take immediate action.
Click here to read a breakdown of child poverty in your area: www.caritassalford.org.uk/child-poverty/

Caritas operates a diverse range of services across Greater Manchester and Lancashire, including professional services for children. Their latest fundraising appeal is asking for support to enable us to reach and support more families.

Patrick O'Dowd Director of Caritas Salford said in a statement: "As we go through the most severe period of price rises for 40 years, we know that more local families than ever will need our help, especially across these school holiday weeks and into the autumn with the planned energy price hike.

"It is simply not right that children are suffering, and these latest figures of the numbers living in poverty in our area are frankly shocking.

Demand for our services is higher than ever, and it's heartbreaking and completely unacceptable that families are having to choose between paying bills or feeding their children. Action must be taken now.

We are calling for the Government to support people's immediate spending needs by:

- Increasing benefits now (as opposed to April 2023) to bring them in line with inflation
- Reintroducing the £20 uplift for Universal Credit
- Providing a one-off payment to households in dwellings below EPC band C
- Implementing policy that helps mitigate the impact of inflationary shocks in the future."

Caritas Salford continues to support people in crisis in practical ways. Since its launch in 2020, the Caritas Bishop's Fund has been awarding small one-off emergency grants to families and individuals in crisis. Access to these grants is promoted via Caritas frontline workers and partnership organisations, as well as the diocesan network of schools and parishes.

The fund has helped people in many different ways, ranging from supermarket shopping vouchers through to replacement white goods and children's beds. It has helped hundreds of people when they have been at their lowest points in their lives (terminal illness, loss of job, bereavement, eviction, survivors of abuse).

Parishes and schools can access the eligibility criteria and application form for the Caritas Bishop's Fund on our website or by following this link: www.caritassalford.org.uk/news/caritas-bishops-fund/

Click on the following link to make a donation or set up a regular gift: https://app.donorfy.com/form/NBJHFKD0E0/NXWUM

Patrick O'Dowd concludes: "Please continue to keep those we are supporting at this difficult time in your prayers. Stay with us, Lord, on our journey."


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