As a long-term supporter of Cafod, I was saddened to read on your website that it was laying off staff. I welcome the prospect of Cafod focusing on enabling lay Catholics to play a greater role in its work through volunteering, but it would be unwise to make over-optimistic assumptions about the pool of ready volunteers. Experience of recruiting volunteers for another lay-based initiative, from our parish and beyond, suggests that many of those who are both aware of the need and in a position to respond have already taken on what commitments they can. Following Pope Francis’ call for us to forge closer ties with other Christians without waiting for theological issues to be settled, is it time for Cafod to consider sharing facilities, or even merging, with Christian Aid? I often feel