Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity signs up to new Living Wage Funder Scheme

We are leading the way by joining the Living Wage Foundation's new scheme for charity funders. The scheme recognises funders that commit to supporting charities by funding posts at the Living Wage or above.

We are pleased to announce that we have received recognition as a Living Wage Funder in the UK from the Living Wage Foundation.

As part of our commitment to being a Living Wage Funder, we support successful applicant charities to pay the Living Wage to any grant-funded staff posts.

Living Wage Funders themselves are Living Wage Employers and then, where possible, also encourage grantees to become accredited employers over time.

Living Wage Funders work together to end low pay in the voluntary and community sector.

Thousands of charities and funders have already embraced the real Living Wage across the UK, but low pay remains a significant challenge across the sector. The Living Wage Funder scheme has been funded by People’s Health Trust and developed in collaboration with a range of funders including Trust for London, Barrow Cadbury, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Comic Relief.

The minimum wage for those aged 25 and over in the UK is currently £7.83 an hour in the UK, but the Living Wage, a voluntary rate which is set independently and calculated in accordance to the basic cost of living in the UK, is considerably higher at £9.00, rising to £10.55 in London.

Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation said:

“We are delighted to recognise Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity as a Living Wage Funder. The leadership shown demonstrates a commitment to tackling the serious problems that low pay brings to our communities.

"Many organisations in the voluntary and community sectors are working hard to tackle social injustice and poverty; it’s only right that those committed to these roles are afforded at least a Living Wage. We hope to see many more funders and corporates follow the lead of the Mayor's Charity and the other Living Wage Funders.

"At a time when half of those in poverty live in a household where someone has a job, the real Living Wage is much needed by families across the UK. The Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day’s work with a fair day’s pay.”

If you are interested in becoming a Living Wage Employer and/or Living Wage Funder, please get in touch. We'd be happy to talk through the process with you. You can also find out more here.

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