Daughters of Charity Services Responds to the Spending Review

We welcome several positive commitments in the chancellors spending review. The expansion of free school meals to all children with a parent on Universal Credit is a vital step forward in tackling child poverty, and we’re encouraged to see targeted funding for early years and post-16 settings, as well as support for breakfast clubs. However, given the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, many children who do not qualify for free school meals will still go without adequate nutrition. We urge the government to provide free school meals for all primary school children across the UK, and reiterate our call to end the two-child limit on child benefit, ensuring every child has a fair and equal start in life. 

Plans to inject £39 billion into the housing sector is also a welcome investment, as is the announcement of £100 million to support early interventions to prevent homelessness. We hope the government continuities to engage with charities that are working tirelessly to support rough sleepers, and people at risk, to create a long-term plan that tackles the homelessness crisis.

On refugees and asylum seekers, despite more funding being allocated to the asylum system, it is clear the government’s focus is on reducing system costs by clearing the backlog and ending the use of hotels as accommodation. The government should prioritise the safety and dignity of asylum seekers by ensuring appropriate housing conditions are available and reconsider allowing people to work while they wait for their asylum claim to reduce destitution.

Lastly, we are encouraged by the government’s commitment to improving adult social care with new funding announced. This is a step in the right direction to improve the sector, but it must be backed with a clear plan for how it will support both care users and workers. 

At Daughters of Charity Services, we stand in solidarity alongside people facing poverty, hardship and exclusion, and we urge decision-makers to do the same by bringing fairness and dignity to those who need it most.