The North East has the highest levels of child poverty in the country. In Durham Diocese, one of our priorities is to address this, and along with churches across the region we are doing amazing work responding to the needs of our communities. Addressing the problem is more difficult, but paying a real Living Wage is one way we can do this.
Research by Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition, found that 35% of babies, children and young people across the North East were living below the poverty line in 2021/22. Almost 7 in 10 (67%) children living in poverty in the region are from working households, and that is why this years Living Wage Week is more important than ever.
This high level of in-work poverty is why the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler, has been such a strong supporter of the Living Wage campaign.
Bishop Paul said: “It is a matter of justice that people are paid properly for the work they undertake.
“The Real Living Wage changes people’s lives, not simply the person earning but their whole family as well and that’s why I continue to be a strong advocate of it.”
The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate based on the cost of living. It is voluntary paid by over 14,000 UK businesses including 255 employers in the North East and has recently been increased to £12 per hour.
Since the start of the Living Wage Foundation in 2011, the Living Wage movement has put back over £3bn into the pockets of low-paid workers as extra wages.
We have two Living Wage Cities in the region, Newcastle and Sunderland, and the movement is growing!
The amazing work that churches do to respond to poverty is valued and appreciated by so many, but it is becoming obvious that some churches would like to do more to challenge the injustice of child poverty in our region - we could do this by supporting and championing the real Living Wage campaign.’
So what can you do this Living Wage Week? Here are three things:
- Understand more about what the Living Wage is and how it changes lives and raise awareness within your congregation.
- Act by asking employers whether they are accredited as a Living Wage employer and encourage them to contact the Living Wage Foundation. Find out what accreditation involves here.
- Contact your MP. Tyne and Wear Citizens want to see a commitment all care workers to be paid the real Living Wage. If you would like to support this please get in touch.
Tackling Poverty may seem like an impossible mission, however paying the real Living Wage is one way we can all work together to reduce this injustice.
Written by Val Barron, Community Development Worker, Communities Together Durham and Co-Chair Living Wage Action Team, Tyne and Wear Citizens.