Church survey reveals desperate need for Living Wage

New research shows that times are getting even harder for people on low incomes. Church Action on Poverty is calling on UK churches to lead the way in guaranteeing a Living Wage for all.

Yesterday, researchers published the latest update to the 'Minimum Income Standard'. This shows what income the general public believe is needed to ensure a basic standard of living. The new figures show that recession and austerity are having a terrible impact on the UK's most vulnerable people. The income needed to achieve this minimum standard of living has risen by nearly a third since 2008, due to rises in the costs of food, tr average incomes for low earners have stagnated or fallen - meaning that people are finding it even harder to get by.

The research shows that people need to earn much more than the National Minimum Wage of £6.08 an hour in order to achieve a basic standard of living. Church Action on Poverty is calling on all employers to pay a Living Wage of at least £7.60 an hour - and asking churches to lead the way.

Church Action on Poverty's Alan Thornton commented: "These figures show just how hard the most vulnerable people have been hit by the recession and austerity in the UK. People who are working hard on the Minimum Wage are still unable to feed their families or heat their homes properly. To prevent further people falling into poverty, we urgently need to ensure a Living Wage for all. We urge all churches to ensure that they pay a Living Wage - and then to speak out for Fair Pay for everyone in society."

For more information see: www.church-poverty.org.uk/livingwage