WCVA becomes first Welsh Living Wage funder

Living Wage Friendly FunderWCVA Chief Executive Ruth Marks with First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones AM

The Living Wage Friendly Funder scheme recognises funders that commit to supporting charities by funding posts at the Living Wage or above. As part of their commitment to the scheme WCVA will support successful funding applicants to pay the Living Wage to any grant-funded staff posts.

The minimum wage for those aged 25 and over is currently £7.50 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 £8.75, rising to £10.20 in London.

‘The Living Wage is a positive movement for our society,’ said WCVA Chief Executive, Ruth Marks, ‘in particular for our members and the third sector. WCVA is extremely proud to both pay the Living Wage to its staff, and be able to support other organisations to provide a fair wage through our funding schemes.’

About Living Wage Friendly Funders

Living Wage Friendly Funders must first be Living Wage Employers themselves and then, where possible, also encourage grantees to become accredited employers over time. Organisations with the Living Wage Friendly Funder badge will 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 Friendly 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.

Cynnal Cymru acts as the Living Wage accreditation body for Wales, where over 100 organisations have become Living Wage Employers. Please contact Megan for more information – megan@cynnalcymru.com or 02920 192021 – or visit the Living Wage website.

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