'We call on the next government to…'

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ePolitix.com speaks to Timothy Stone, public affairs officer at the Salvation Army, about social exclusion, work for all, asylum and supporting the 'Robin Hood Tax'.

Do you think there is any danger that a future government may cut funding to faith-based charities such as the Salvation Army?

Spending cuts are a key feature of this general election, especially in the aftermath of global economic crisis. In this context, all public services are likely to experience funding shortfalls, including those offered by the Salvation Army and other faith-based organisations. Recent research cited by the Charity Commission has confirmed that many charities will go 'bust' because of their reliance on government contracts to deliver public services.

This view reflects the Charity Commission's findings that numerous service contracts between charities and public sector bodies will end in March 2011, with devastating effects. Larger charities have been hit hardest, with 79 per cent feeling the impact of the recession, and a third seeing an increase in demand for services.

Faith-based organisations also have other issues to address, e.g. to give assurances that we:

• offer the necessary expertise to deliver public services;
• will provide services for everyone without discrimination; and
• have access to a wide range of funding options, e.g. private funding for proselytising or worship.

Why are faith-based organisations well positioned to tackle issues such as social exclusion?

There is widespread recognition that faith-based bodies and religious organisations make a significant contribution to the well-being of society.

Faith-based organisations like the Salvation Army often have the experience, 'reach', buildings and volunteers that can enable highly effective delivery of services. Many faith-based groups operate on a large scale and have led innovation in housing, social care and the children and family sectors, to name but three. Our track record of successful service delivery to the most vulnerable means that we are trusted.

What would the Salvation Army say is the key factor in deterring rough sleeping?

The Salvation Army has funded rigorous academic research into the causes of homelessness.

The Seeds of Exclusion report published in 2009 is based on in-depth interviews, and validated questionnaires involving 967 homeless people at Salvation Army centres within the UK and Ireland, conducted by the University of Kent and Cardiff University between January 2006 and April 2009.

Our findings are that the underlying drivers of social exclusion include:

• relationship breakdown - the main reason given by respondents for their
• homelessness (43 per cent), followed by
• financial issues (22 per cent),
• drugs (21 per cent) and
• alcohol (16 per cent).

In-depth interviews and screening revealed that 96 per cent of respondents were unemployed, 80 per cent screened positive for one or more substance misuse issues, and 59 per cent screened positive for anxiety-related symptoms.

Our next phase of research will explore the importance of family life in preventing homelessness.

More information at www.salvationarmy.org.uk/seeds.

'Work for all' is a key message of the Salvation Army, how do you believe a future government can work to ensure this message becomes reality?

'Work for all' has always been at the heart of the Salvation Army's social provision. In fact, the Salvation Army opened the first labour exchange in the UK in 1890 in London. The Salvation Army's latest initiative, the Employment Plus UK unit, was established in 2007, specifically to help and support the long-term unemployed and those furthest from the labour market into sustainable and satisfying employment.

The Salvation Army calls on the next government to:

• Continue to provide funding for sustainable employment services, which are the key to economic recovery, but to particularly ensure that sufficient funding is available to give the appropriate support to those furthest from the labour market to enable them to enter and sustain employment.
• Take the appropriate steps to enable third sector and local providers to more substantially bring their innovative and special skills to contribute to tackling unemployment, and the causes of long-term unemployment amongst the hardest to help.
• Operate a more 'joined-up' approach to long-term unemployment between government department budgets, so that services are not offered in isolation.
• Establish a high-pay commission and/or a national maximum-pay-differential limit between the lowest-paid and the highest-paid. While low pay and the minimum wage require serious consideration, the effects of extreme income inequality are severe and numerous, with a strong causal relationship to many social ills. No major political party has taken a strong enough stand in response to these realities.
• Recognise the vital importance of the role of parents, both mothers and fathers, in the upbringing of young children by investing far more substantially in universal childcare and in extended, paid paternity leave.

Why is the Salvation Army supporting the Robin Hood Tax?

The Robin Hood Tax is a tiny tax on banks, hedge funds and other finance institutions that would raise billions to tackle poverty and climate change, at home in the UK and internationally.

It can start as low as 0.005 per cent – and average 0.05 per cent. But when levied on the billions of pounds sloshing round the global finance system every day through transactions such as foreign exchange, derivatives trading and share deals, it can raise hundreds of billions of pounds every year.

And while international agreement is best, it can start right now, right here in the UK. That can help stop cuts in crucial public services in the UK, and aid the fight against global poverty and climate change.

It is important the RHT is introduced as soon as possible. Because of the financial crisis, frontline services at home – like the NHS and our schools – are under fire. At the same time, poor communities and the environment are being hit hard – as aid and green budgets are slashed by rich countries. So it's time for the people who caused this mess to pay to clean it up.

This isn't some crazy pipedream. It's a simple and brilliant idea which transcends party politics and which can become a reality.

In the manifesto you suggest using the phrase 'seeking sanctuary' instead of asylum for those fleeing persecution, why is this needed?

The Salvation Army believes that the UK's tradition of sanctuary is precious. We subscribe to the key values which the Independent Asylum Commission identified that the majority of British people want, to underpin the treatment of people fleeing persecution, namely:

• People fleeing persecution should be able to find sanctuary in safe countries like the UK.
• The UK should have an effective system for controlling our borders that lets those seeking sanctuary in, as well as keeping irregular migrants out.
• The UK should have a fair and effective decision-making body that takes pride in giving sanctuary to those who need it and denies it to those who do not.
• People seeking sanctuary should be treated fairly and humanely, have access to essential support and public services, and should make a contribution to the UK if they are able.
• Once a decision has been made, the UK should act swiftly, effectively and in a controlled way – either to assist integration or to effect a swift, safe and sustainable return for those who have had a fair hearing and have been refused sanctuary.

The Salvation Army calls on the next government to:

• Use 'sanctuary' instead of 'asylum' when communicating with the public. Promote greater understanding by using words like 'sanctuary' and 'people seeking sanctuary' which are positively understood by the public, instead of 'asylum' and 'asylum seeker' which the public do not understand and most people react to negatively.
• Campaign responsibly, positively and sensitively, make clear the difference between sanctuary and economic migration, and not seek to gain electoral advantage by pandering to fears about people seeking sanctuary.
• Support policies that will end the detention of children and families for immigration reasons.
• Promote understanding and neighbourliness between local communities.
• Work with local authorities, voluntary, faith and citizen groups to form sanctuary welcoming groups to bridge the divide between those seeking sanctuary and the local population and encourage positive encounters between communities and local people.
• Safeguard the long-term future of sanctuary. Once elected, contact all schools to ensure that no child leaves education without being aware of the UK's past and present role as a safe haven.