Caritas Salford calls local Catholics to share priorities for letter to Andy Burnham

Caritas Salford Cornerstone Kitchen

As Andy Burnham starts work as our new prime minister, he will have a huge list of priorities to address as he hopefully hits the ground running. But, as a charity that supports people experiencing poverty and homelessness in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, Caritas Salford is keen to make sure that the core issues affecting the lives of those people aren't lost in the mix.

With almost one in three children in the area Caritas Salford operates within 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 charity has said that the time for talking is over.

It's urging for action to be taken to address some of the core policies and decisions which leave people experiencing challenges that they never thought imaginable - and they're hoping Andy Burnham will give a commitment to addressing some of them urgently.

The charity is writing to the new prime minister to update him on the situation in its area, and to remind him of what they're calling for when it comes to driving change that could transform the lives of people in its communities - and they'd love the help of local Catholics too.

Some of the priorities the charity is highlighting to the new prime minister 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.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "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 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 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 Caritas Salford's calls for change?

Whatever your thoughts or experiences, the charity would love to hear from you so they can include them in their letter of domestic social action priorities.

Please get in touch if there's anything you think Caritas Salford should consider including in the letter - Email: Annabeth Taylor: a.taylor@caritassalford.org.uk

Any comments received will be used anonymously.

Read more about Caritas Salford here: www.caritassalford.org.uk/