The parish priests interviewed (“The new destitution”, 1 March) highlight the grass-roots experience underpinning Cardinal Vincent Nichols’ astute observations on welfare reform. The suffering they recount from across the country resonates strongly with the research undertaken last year by the Catholic Children’s Society (Westminster). We interviewed head teachers from Catholic primary and secondary schools from 11 of the 22 deaneries, covering inner city, outer London and rural areas within the Diocese of Westminster. We asked head teachers about increasing levels of child and family poverty within their school population and the resources available to address it. Like priests, head teachers are well placed to know the children and families with whom they work. Fr