Care workers take cake to No10 North to call for real Living Wage
Care workers take cake to No10 North to call for real Living Wage
I work so hard, why can’t I afford the basics? After travel and food I don’t have anything left. I want to live my life, not survive it.
Becca, Care Worker and Citizens UK Leader
Today, Citizens UK community leaders and care workers visited Number 10 North with a cake and letter to ask the Prime Minister to put a real Living Wage at heart of his commitment to social care.
The delegation was made up of people across Essex, West Yorkshire, London, Birmingham, Tyne & Wear and Greater Manchester. We also passed on our thanks to the Prime Minister for his longstanding support for fair pay and urged him to fulfil his promise to raise care worker pay. In response, No.10 North agreed to a further meeting.
New figures published today by the Living Wage Foundation show that nearly six in ten (59%) adult social care workers in England are paid below the real Living Wage.
Last year, Andy Burham co-signed a letter to urge the Government to guarantee every adult social care worker in England is paid at least the real Living Wage. The now Prime Minister and Kim McGuinness, Mayor of North East England said “Care is skilled work... No one taking on this responsibility should be paid the bare minimum.”
The visit marks the end of Living Wage Week a series of events celebrating the progress of one of the most successful civil society campaigns of the 21st century.
2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the movement, which to date has put over £2bn of extra wages back into the pockets of low paid workers.
As an employer who pays the real Living Wage, I know you can't run a care business without a team who have dignified pay and conditions. Our team need to be able to see a future in this sector and funding needs to support that ambition. People should be able to live not just survive. The government can help us as a business by giving us the confidence to make longer term commitments and I welcome the Prime Minister's long-term commitment to transform this sector.
Connor Monaghan, Managing Director of Knoll Care Partnership
Around 8 in 10 people recognise that care workers are underpaid and deserve a real Living Wage. Citizens UK has been taking coordinated national action calling on the government and care providers to recognise and reward workers with the fair pay they deserve.