Brent council is 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.
Brent Council announces that it has received recognition as a Living Wage Friendly Funder in the UK from the LivingWage Foundation. As part of their commitment to being a Living Wage Friendly Funder, the council supports successful applicant charities to pay the Living Wage to any grant-funded staff posts.
Living Wage Friendly Funders themselves are Living Wage Employers and then, where possible, also encourage grantees to become accredited employers over time. Living Wage Friendly 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 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.
Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation said:
"We are delighted to recognise Brent Council as a Living Wage Friendly 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 Brent Council and the other Living Wage Friendly 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."
Commenting, Cllr Shama Tatler, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Growth, Employment and Skills said:
"We're delighted to become a Friendly Funder and have done so in recognition of the hard work carried out by the local charities we fund. These organisations are at the centre of Brent's vibrant communities and without their dedicated employees, the borough would not be the great place it is. As a council we understand that increasing the rate of pay available for local residents, is instrumental in improving the economic status of the borough."
John Hume, Chief Executive, People's Health Trust, said:
"People's Health Trust is pleased to welcome Brent Council as the latest charitable funder to join the Living Wage Friendly Funder network. By becoming part of this rapidly growing scheme, they have demonstrated their commitment, as a funder, to working towards ending low pay in the voluntary and community sector.
"We want to see the Living Wage become the norm, and believe that funding organisations can lead the way in making this happen within the voluntary sector."