Social care charity Making Space has increased pay by 10%, or the equivalent of £1,950 per year for full-time staff, in order to bring wages up to the level of the living wage.
Employees at social care services run by the charity, amounting to more than 1,000 people across England, received the raise in their April 2023 pay packets. Making Space confirmed that it will pay all employees nationwide a minimum of £10.90 per hour.
The real living wage is calculated by the Living Wage Foundation, based on living costs.
The increase added to Making Space’s raise of £1,700 for frontline staff in 2022, bringing pay up by £3,650 since 2021.
Those employees already on pay either equal to or exceeding the £10.90 per hour minimum also saw their pay increased, providing 80% of staff with a raise of between 8.6% and 10.1%.
Rachel Peacock, chief executive officer (CEO) of Making Space, said: “Frontline social care workers do one of the most important jobs in society, that is supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.
“The efforts of everyone at Making Space are nothing short of incredible and my colleagues have my absolute admiration.
“We truly value the hard work, commitment and sacrifice of the dedicated people who provide the best quality care and support to the people that use our services.
“Despite the ongoing challenges of their roles, our Making Space colleagues continue to provide outstanding care and support at our services all over the UK. They are professional and skilled people who deserve to be paid at a level that takes account of the real cost of living, which is why we are committed to paying the Real Living Wage.
“But while we will continue to do everything we can to attract and train the best people to deliver the highest level of support, we also need the government to do more to reform the health and social care sector.”
In addition to the pay rise, Making Space also provides staff with benefits including a pension scheme, cycle-to-work scheme, private mental health support, discounts at gyms, health clubs, leisure centres and fitness studios, savings on holidays and days out, and instant access to 30% of earned pay.