UK faith leaders unite in moral call against welfare reforms

Homeless camp, Tottenham Ct Rd ICN/JS

With the debate continuing on government welfare reform, senior faith leaders from across the country joined forces on Sunday in an urgent call for the government to go further and be 'bold and ambitious' in its forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy.

The call is shared in an open letter to the co-chairs of the Ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce, Bridget Philipson, Secretary of State for Education, and Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

The letter is signed by 35 faith leaders from all six of the major faith traditions represented in the UK, including Rt Rev John Arnold, Bishop of Salford, Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford, former Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg OBE, Director of Islamic Relief UK Tufail Hussain, Director of the Network of Sikh organisations UK, Lord Singh of Wimbledon, President of the Hindu Forum of Britain, Trupti Patel, and President of the Buddhist Society, Dr Desmond Biddulph.

It states: "We write to you as faith leaders from communities across the UK, to encourage you to be bold and ambitious in your upcoming Child Poverty Strategy."

Currently three in every 10 (4.3 million) children in the UK are living in poverty and without further action a further 400,000 are likely to be pulled into poverty by the end of the decade. The Prime Minister promised during the last election that his government would introduce an ambitious plan to lift 'millions' of children out of poverty.

The letter continues: "While we come from different faith traditions, we share a belief that working to end poverty should be a hallmark of any decent, compassionate society. We also believe that transformational change is possible. We are hopeful that the Child Poverty Strategy could be a turning point for the communities we serve, and we are ready to work in partnership with people of goodwill across society to ensure that every child has the start in life they deserve. We anticipate your strategy and pray that it will rise to the challenges we face."

The letter highlights the findings from 'Paying the Price', a new report from Action for Children released this week, which sets out a comprehensive range of measures that would lift 1.2 million children out of poverty by 2030. These measures include action to reform and invest in a more effective social security system, and steps to boost social housing and improve opportunities for income from employment.

The research found that the single most cost-effective policy option the government could take towards ending poverty is scrapping the two-child limit and benefit cap, which, whilst not enough to achieve the necessary scale of reduction, would immediately free 400,000 from poverty and lift a total of 600,000 children out of poverty by 2030 at a cost of £3.9 billion per year.

Revd Helen Cameron, President of the Methodist Conference, said: "The levels of child poverty we are seeing in communities across the UK cannot be acceptable. With communities trying to pick up the pieces and support families who are struggling, it's time for the government to step up too. We know it is possible to significantly reduce child poverty, and a social security system that enables families to afford the essentials will be a central pillar. The government must demonstrate that tackling poverty is a priority and make ambitious choices. We pray that the government's strategy will rise to the challenges we face."

The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, who is the Church of England's lead on poverty, said: "Every child is a precious gift and should have the opportunity to flourish. Yet the scourge of poverty we see in our country today has profound implications on their health, wellbeing and life chances. Churches will continue to play their part in supporting children and their families experiencing hardship, meeting need where we find it, and advocating for policies which address structural challenges. An ambitious child poverty strategy would make a significant difference in the communities we live in and among."

Tufail Hussain, Director of Islamic Relief UK, said: "In one of the world's wealthiest nations, no child should go hungry, lack warm clothes, or live in a freezing home. Yet, we know from our work across the country that rising costs are pushing the poorest families to breaking point, forcing parents to choose between heating and eating.

"Charities and faith groups will always try to support those in need, but food banks and emergency aid cannot be substitutes for a welfare system that fails to provide families with enough to afford even the essentials. The government's Child Poverty Strategy must ensure every child has the essentials they need to thrive and be a step towards bold, transformational change to tackle rising poverty in the UK. This is about more than financial hardship - it is about dignity, fairness, and the kind of society we want to be."

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg OBE, Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism UK, said: "There is no doubt we are facing a crisis of child poverty in this country. With nearly one in three children living in poverty today - a number that is rising - it is clear that ambitious and urgent action is needed. As faith leaders, we believe that a better future is possible, where everyone can live full lives. The government must take steps to invest in this future."

Louise (24) from London, faced poverty in childhood before going into foster care from the age of 11. She continues to struggle financially as a care-leaver, particularly as a young, single mum to her four-year-old daughter, battling child care expenses and the high cost of living.

She said: "The impact of growing up in poverty is huge. It affected me physically, mentally and emotionally. Not eating enough food as a child affects your health, weight and concentration. You feel angry and confused.

"A child can't understand why they're excluded from school trips with their friends, or why they don't have new clothes. You feel different. I felt like I was being punished. I didn't understand we just didn't have the money.

"As a care leaver, breaking the cycle of poverty and finding financial independence can be overwhelming and feel impossible at times. There are often barriers you don't know how to overcome on your own as a young adult without the family support and guidance that others may take for granted.

"As a mum, I want the best for my daughter and to give her opportunities I didn't have. It is motivation, but it also brings its own pressures. Even though I worked as much as I could, before she went to school, I was in my overdraft every month and relying on Universal Credit just to pay for childcare so I could keep my job. That isn't right.

"I think there is more support needed not just for young people leaving care, but also for families with young children on low incomes, to help people stay in work, care for their children and thrive."

Read the letter and list of signatories below:

Dear Bridget Philipson, Secretary of State for Education, and Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

We write to you as faith leaders from communities across the UK, to encourage you to be bold and ambitious in your upcoming Child Poverty Strategy.

We welcome the government's acknowledgement in its manifesto that the UK's increasing levels of child poverty and reliance on emergency food are a "moral scar" on our nation. Without action this scar will deepen, with an additional 400,000 children set to be pulled into poverty over the next decade.

This cannot be acceptable. As we look around the communities we serve, it is clear that this is not a time for half measures. We have seen the challenges faced by our neighbours become harder and harder. We've also seen communities step up time and again to provide support through debt centres, food banks, food pantries and warm hubs, as well as by simply providing welcoming spaces for those who need them. Millions are fed and supported because communities have risen to the challenge of ever-increasing poverty and hardship.

In setting out your Child Poverty Strategy, we ask you to demonstrate that you match the commitment and ambition of our communities and strive to ensure that no child in the UK is held back by poverty. This will require substantial investment and intentional focus from government. Research released this week by Action for Children sets out a roadmap of measures that could lift 1.2 million children out of poverty by the end of this parliament. These include action to reform and invest in a more effective social security system, and steps to boost social housing and improve opportunities for income from employment.

We all want this strategy to succeed, so it is important that these plans are developed in partnership with children and families who are experiencing poverty. This not only honours the wisdom and insight such lived experiences bring but will also help to ensure that policies are workable in the real-life contexts of our communities.

We recognise that there are many pressures on public spending, but we believe that there is an urgent moral imperative to prioritise policies that ensure that every child, whatever their background, has the best possible chance to thrive.

While we come from different faith traditions, we share a belief that working to end poverty should be a hallmark of any decent, compassionate society. We also believe that transformational change is possible. We are hopeful that the Child Poverty Strategy could be a turning point for the communities we serve, and we are ready to work in partnership with people of goodwill across society to ensure that every child has the start in life they deserve.

We anticipate your strategy and pray that it will rise to the challenges we face.

Yours sincerely

Rt Rev John Arnold, Bishop of Salford, Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford

Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen, Co-chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors in the UK

Anil Bhanot, Managing Trustee, Hindu Council UK

Dr Desmond Biddulph CBE, President of The Buddhist Society

Nicola Brady, General Secretary, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland

Adwoa Burnley, Clerk, Quakers in Britain

Revd Helen Cameron, President of the Methodist Conference, The Methodist Church in Britain

Rabiha Hannan, Trustee, New Horizons in British Islam

Tufail Hussain, Director, Islamic Relief UK

B"H, Rabbi Herschel Gluck OBE, Chairman Muslim-Jewish Forum, Rabbi Emeritus Sharei Mazal Synagogue

Carolyn Godfrey, Vice President of the Methodist Conference, The Methodist Church in Britain

Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary, The Baptist Union of Great Britain

Mrs Mia Hasenson-Gross, Executive Director, René Cassin -the Jewish voice for human rights

Bea Hulme, Youth President of the Methodist Church, The Methodist Church in Britain

Emma Jackson, Convener, Public Life and Social Justice Programme Group, The Church of Scotland

Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main, Territorial Leaders, The Salvation Army UK and Ireland

Revd Tim Meadows, General Assembly Moderator, The United Reformed Church

Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, Inter Faith Ambassador, The Muslim Council of Britain

Farooq Murad, CEO, The Islamic Foundation

Ravinder Kaur Nijjar, Chair, Sikhs in Scotland Interreligious Dialogue Committee, Sikhs in Scotland

Trupti Patel, President of the Hindu Forum of Britain and Trustee of the HFB Charity, Hindu Forum of Britain

Imam Dr Sayed Razawi, Director General, Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society (SABS)

Bishop Paul Rochester, General Secretary, Free Churches Group

Bishop Mike Royal, General Secretary, Churches Together in England

Indarjit Lord Singh of Wimbledon, Director, Network of Sikh Organisations UK

Elizabeth Slade, Chief Officer, General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches

The Rt Revd Martyn Snow, Lord Bishop of Leicester, Church of England

Most Revd Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness, and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church

Dr Srihari Vallabhajousula, Scottish Hindu Religious leader, The Hindu Temple of Scotland

Rabbi Kath Vardi, Rabbi, North West Surrey Synagogue

Rt Revd Dr Rowan Williams, Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Llandaff, Church in Wales

Maya Withall, URC Youth Assembly Moderator, The United Reformed Church

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg OBE, Senior Rabbi, Masorti Judaism

Rabbi Igor Zinkov, Co-chair of the Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors, The Liberal Jewish Synagogue

LINK

www.jrf.org.uk/uk-poverty-2025-the-essential-guide-to-understanding-poverty-in-the-uk
Action for Children (March 2025) 'Paying the Price', available from Matt Cornish at the Action for Children press office on 07779 866 847/ matt.cornish@actionforchildren.org.uk or out of hours on 020 3124 0661/ mediateam@actionforchildren.org.uk