Age UK Norfolk becomes Real Living Wage Employer
Published on 20 April 2023 11:00 AM
Local older people’s charity, Age UK Norfolk, has revealed that as of April 2023, they have joined the ranks of other Norfolk organisations as a real Living Wage employer, ensuring their commitment to being an outstanding place to work.
The National Living Wage for employees aged over 23 years was an hourly rate of £9.50 from April 2022. The National Living Wage hourly rate rises to £10.42 with effect from April 2023, an almost 10% rise. The real Living Wage hourly rate is slightly higher at £10.90, almost 13% higher than the National Living Wage rate for 2022-23.
Age UK Norfolk will now apply for real Living Wage Employer accreditation with the Living Wage Foundation, which states that there are currently 673 registered real Living Wage employers in the East Anglia region.
Ann Donkin, interim CEO of Age UK Norfolk, said, “A real Living Wage is more important now than ever; our team regularly speak with older people who are struggling to make ends meet on small, fixed incomes, particularly in the wake of the current cost of living crisis. It is vital that we support the wellbeing of our own workforce and ensure our sustainability so that we can continue to meet the high level of demand that our services are experiencing.
“We are immensely proud to be able to call ourselves a real Living Wage employer and hope to encourage other organisations to work towards the same, helping Norfolk to become a real Living Wage County. We look forward to receiving our accreditation and building relationships with real Living Wage funders.”
Stephen Drake, Chair of Age UK Norfolk, said, “The older people of Norfolk face many struggles and challenges which are likely to only increase. It is therefore imperative Age UK Norfolk are able to continue to offer advice and assistance when needed and that starts by having a committed and content workforce. By adopting the real Living Wage into our remuneration structure, we hope to ease some of the pressure on our staff freeing them to give their all to the older people of Norfolk.”