The Red Hen Project, a Cambridge-based charity initiative that supports children and families, has become an accredited real living wage employer.
As a result of this commitment, all of The Red Hen Project’s employees will receive a wage that reflects the real cost of living, and not just the government minimum wage. This rate is £12.83 per hour and is higher than the £12.60 current living wage. It is also 5% more than the government minimum for employees aged 21 and above, which stands at £12.21 per hour.
The real living wage is independently calculated every year by the Living Wage Foundation based on what people actually need to get by. It has been designed to ensure workers can afford essentials, such as rent, food, transport and heating, and takes into account the financial pressures faced by families and individuals.
According to The Red Hen Project, its team is central to its mission of supporting people and believes that fair pay is essential to valuing its people who deliver this work. Becoming a real living wage employer is another way that it is putting its values into action.
A Red Hen Project spokesperson said: “This accreditation also places us alongside a growing movement of more than 14,000 employers across the UK who are choosing to do right by their staff. It’s about dignity, security, and recognising that good work deserves decent pay.
“For us, this step is about more than a pay rate, it’s a promise. A promise that we’ll continue to support our team with the respect and fairness they deserve, so they can keep making a difference in our community.”
