​Charity shortlisted for prestigious award

Family support charity One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) has been shortlisted for an award in recognition of it becoming a living wage employer.

The Living Wage Champion Awards recognise employers that have made significant contributions to communities and industries by implementing the pay standard.

Updated annually, the living wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living using the minimum income standard for the UK – currently £7.85 per hour in Scotland.

A recognition mark for employers that commit to paying the rate is now offered by the Living Wage Foundation, the charity behind the scheme.

Despite the fact that 65% of lone parents are in work, many of these are living below the poverty line because they are on the national minimum wage

Satwat Rehman, director of One Parent Families Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be nominated for a Living Wage Champion Award.

“As a charity who campaigns to get lone parents out of poverty it makes sense that we, as an employer of over 170 people, pay our staff a living wage.

“OPFS supports the Scottish Living Wage Campaign. Despite the fact that 65% of lone parents are in work, many of these are living below the poverty line because they are on the national minimum wage.

“If employers committed to paying a living wage, thousands of Scottish lone parents and their children would be lifted out of poverty and would also be less reliant on government benefits such as tax credits.”

Living Wage Foundation director, Rhys Moore added: “I would like to send huge congratulations to One Parent Families Scotland on being shortlisted for the Living Wage Champion Awards.

"The commitment of Living Wage Employers to responsible pay makes a life changing difference to families and communities across the UK."