Corstorphine churches work towards the living wage - Challenge Poverty Week

Corstorphine Old Parish, St Ninian's, St Anne's and St Andrew's Clermiston churches are working together to find out how to make sure staff are paid the Real Living Wage, which is currently £9 an hour.

Their intention is to share what they have learnt on the way to accreditation, and to encourage other congregations to do the same. Some businesses in Corstorphine are already paying the living wage, and the group are hoping that others will follow suit, or join them in celebrating the movement towards better wages for all.

Representing the churches, Rev Alistair Keil of St Andrew's Clermiston Parish Church said: "Aware of Jesus' teaching on justice (Matthew 20:1-16), and aware of our privileged position as churches we are conscious of the broader challenges which are faced by many in responding to the call to engage with the justice of the living wage.

"As we together become involved with the process of responding, we hope to inspire others to do so, and to encourage and support them as they seek to achieve Living Wage accreditation."

This week is Challenge Poverty Week, providing an opportunity for you to raise your voice against poverty and show what needs to be done to tackle the issue across Scotland.

Poverty has a number of contributing factors, and a wide range of policies and services are needed to bring it to an end. Ensuring that everyone is paid a Real Living Wage is one way to improve people's lives, as low wages can result in people struggling to get by. Paying people a decent wage doesn't just improve the lives of employees. Research has found that 80% of employers believe that the Real Living wage has enhanced the quality of the work of their staff, whilst 75% of employees report increases in work quality as a result of receiving the living wage.

The Real Living Wage is calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the best available evidence on living standards in London and the UK. It takes into account the minimum amount someone needs to be paid an hour so as to have a basic standard of living.

If you are interested in getting living wage accreditation for your congregation, contact Eleri Birkhead

Find out more about Challenge Poverty Week