Guest blog from Cllr Andy Hull, Executive Member for Finance, Performance and Community Safety at the London Borough of Islington
Back in 2012, Islington Council became one of the country's first Living Wage local authorities. A year ago, we built on that commitment by also becoming the first council to be recognised as a Living Wage Friendly Funder. The scheme supports grant-giving organisations to secure the Living Wage through their core grant-making, aiming to bring people together to help end low pay in the voluntary and community sector. This can make a real difference in a sector where average pay is lower than in public services or in private enterprise.
A key part of Friendly Funder status is securing the Living Wage for grant-funded posts, or at least to work towards this according to an agreed timeframe. In Islington, our Voluntary and Community Sector Grants Programme provides a total of £2.7 million of funding each year to more than 50 local charitable organisations, all of which have now committed to paying their staff at least the London Living Wage. In addition, through some of our other, smaller funding streams, we do what we can to encourage community beneficiaries to pay a Living Wage as well.
We support voluntary and community sector organisations to become accredited Living Wage employers themselves too. In total, 110 Islington organisations, including charities, are now accredited as Living Wage employers and we want to help more third-sector organisations to sign up.
This is a difficult time for charities and local authorities alike. But the voluntary and community sector's role in our communities is more vital now than ever and we commend their contribution to ensuring that people employed here get the dignity of decent pay for their hard work.
Our partners are helping us drive the Living Wage throughout our borough. Voluntary Action Islington, for example, was one of the first voluntary sector organisations in Islington to become an accredited Living Wage employer. Its acting Chief Executive, Philip Boye-Anawomah, said:
We continue strongly to support the work done on the Living Wage by the London Borough of Islington and London Citizens. We also continue to help and encourage local voluntary sector organisations to sign up.
All of Islington Council's own staff and now 98 per cent of our contractors get paid at least the London Living Wage. For a year now, we have hardwired the Living Wage into our approach to grant-giving as a Living Wage Friendly Funder as well. No-one should have to do a hard day's work for less than they can live on, including those who work for community groups or charities.