Almost half a million Brits have been given a pay rise from today as the real Living Wage has risen to £12 an hour.
The real Living Wage – which is set by the Living Wage Foundation, and remains the only wage rates that are independently-calculated based on what people actually need to live on – has increased its rate increased by 10% in the UK, which means over 460,000 people working for 14,000 real Living Wage Employers throughout the country are set to benefit.
As the cost of living crisis sadly continues to make its impact felt nationwide, the real Living Wage rate’s rise to £12 an hour – which is a £1.10 increase – means hundreds of thousands of workers will get a “vital pay boost” from today.
In London, the rate has now also risen to £13.15 an hour – which is £1.20 increase from before.
Operated on a voluntary opt-in basis, some of the big-name companies currently signed up to the real Living Wage scheme – which launched nationally in 2011 – include Aviva, Burberry, Ikea, KPMG, and Nationwide.
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The NEW Living Wage rates for 2023/24 are out! 🎉
Both our #LivingWage rates have risen: £12 (UK) £13.15 (London), meaning a pay-rise for hundreds of thousands of workers. With the rising cost of living, it’s more important than ever.
Unlike the Government‘s minimum wage – which is known as the National Living Wage for over 23s, and is currently set at £10.42 – the real Living Wage is the only wage rate independently calculated based on rising living costs, and applies to everyone over 18.
A full-time worker earning the new real Living Wage would earn £3,081 a year more than a worker earning the current Government minimum, and £2,145 more than their current pay.
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The Living Wage Foundation said the real Living Wage pay increase today would provide a “lifeline” for many employees that are continuing to struggle with “stubbornly high prices” – with recent research published by the charity having found that, despite easing inflation, the cost of living crisis is far from over for the country’s lowest-paid workers.
50% of low-paid workers were found to be worse off than a year ago, 43% reported regularly using a foodbank at least once a month, 60% have used a foodbank in the past year, and 39% reported falling behind on household bills.
“As inflation eases, we cannot forget that low paid workers remain at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis,” commented the Living Wage Foundation’s Director, Katherine Chapman, as the rate rises today.
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“Low paid workers continue to struggle with stubbornly high prices because they spend a larger share of their budget on food and energy, but these new real Living Wage rates are a lifeline for the 460,000 workers who will get a pay rise.
“During these tough economic times, it’s heartening that record numbers of employers are signing up to join the Living Wage movement to protect everyone who works for them.
“The real Living Wage has never been more important.”
‘Powerful’ new BBC documentary to tell the stories of the Southport victims’ families
Emily Sergeant
The BBC is set to tell the stories of the Southport attack victims’ families in a powerful new documentary airing next month.
The Southport attack was a tragedy that hit the nation like no other last summer, and the new hour-long documentary, titled Our Girls: The Southport Families, follows the parents of three young girls – nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, six-year-old Bebe King, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe – who tragically lost their lives in the process.
Last summer, the three little girls had excitedly gone to a Taylor Swift-themed dance class – but tragically, they never came home.
Over the last nine months, a small team from the BBC followed the families’ journey through unimaginable grief and the beginnings of hope, and now their deeply personal interviews are to be shown alongside family footage shared for the first time.
Producers say the ‘moving’ documentary will show the joy the girls brought, and the legacies the parents are now building in their memory.
Set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in early December, viewers will get to watch as the parents plan to create lasting legacies in their daughters’ names – Alice’s Wonderdance, Bebe’s Hive, and Elsie’s Story.
It will also show the parents’ fundraising efforts to build a playground at the school attended by two of the girls, which they hope will become a space for ‘joy, remembrance, and community’.
“This inspirational film is a heartfelt tribute to Alice, Bebe and Elsie, told through the voices of those who knew and loved them most,” explained Richard Frediani, who is the Executive Editor at BBC Breakfast and BBC News.
“It is both heartbreaking and uplifting, a testament to the strength of three families united in grief and now driven by purpose to ensure their names are never forgotten.”
Sarah Campbell, who is a BBC News correspondent, added: “Our hope is that people will take from their story that it is possible to find light and humanity in the darkest of times.”
Our Girls: The Southport Families will air on BBC One on Tuesday 9 December at 8pm, and will later be available on iPlayer.
Featured Image – Merseyside Police
News
NHS says it’s the busiest it has ever been heading into winter as ‘damaging’ strikes begin
Emily Sergeant
The NHS has claimed it’s currently the ‘busiest it has ever been’ as we head into the winter.
While it has been revealed that the health service’s waiting list is 230,000 lower than this time last summer, and down 15,845 compared to the previous month, figures released this week show that the NHS is ‘approaching its limit’ as we head into winter – with A&E, ambulances, and more all facing record demand.
As the colder months edge closer, and a likely spike in flu cases is expected in the coming weeks, the NHS says it’s the ‘busiest it has ever been’.
It also comes during what officials are describing as ‘damaging’ industrial action.
From Friday and into next week, some NHS services will be affected due to strike action. Please continue to come forward for NHS care.
If you need urgent medical help, use 111, and if it is a serious or life-threatening emergency, please call 999. pic.twitter.com/ym87CQ3CRR
Last month, both A&E attendances and ambulance incidents were at a record high for October, with A&E attendances at 37,000 higher than October 2024, equating to over 1,200 more attendances per day this October.
Ambulance incidents also jumped nearly 50,000 compared with October last year (806,441), the NHS has confirmed.
“It is fantastic news that the health service managed to get the waiting list down in September, but there’s no doubt NHS staff will be approaching their limits this winter,” commented Professor Meghana Pandit, who is the NHS National Medical Director.
The NHS says it’s the busiest it has ever been heading into winter amid ‘damaging’ strikes / Credit: Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
“Flu is peaking early and looking like it will be long lasting, while industrial action comes on the back of the busiest October in A&E in NHS history.
“Staff continue to work incredibly hard and, as ever, the public can play their part.”
Despite the health service being stretched during this time, the public are still advised to attend any planned appointments that are scheduled during the ongoing strikes, unless they have been contacted to reschedule.
Primary and urgent and emergency care services will continue to be available for those who need them.
The public should use 111 online as the first port of call for urgent but not life-threatening issues during industrial action so that they can be directed to the best place for their needs, but patients who do need emergency medical care should continue to use 999 or come forward to A&E as normal.
Emily Sergeant -
24th October 2023 
