AN ORGANISATION has committed to paying its staff at a higher rate set by a national body to reflect the current 'financial climate'.

The rate, set by the Living Wage Foundation and calculated by a group of economists, currently stands at £9.90 per hour across the UK and £11.05 in London, to reflect higher prices in the capital.

For comparison, the Government's living wage stands at £9.50 per hour for people aged 23 and over, and £9.18 for over 21s.

Caroline Howsley, General Manager of Cumbria Deaf Association, said: "By registering to be a Living Wage Employer it seals our commitment to ensure that our organisation is supporting the employees in line with the financial climate.

"This is a big step for a small charity. However, it not only benefits our own employees but those of any business we seek to trade with because we will ask if they are an accredited Living Wage employer, with preference being given to them in any tender process."

Accredited Living Wage employers are few and far between in South Cumbria. There is just one in Barrow and 17 in South Lakeland.

As of July 1, there were 10,765 organisations paying the 'real' living wage across the UK.

Ms Howsley continued: "Many companies already pay above the national minimum wage, some meet the living wage but to make the commitment to become an accredited Living Wage employer might be seen as a financial commitment that is too difficult to maintain in these unsettled times.

"Cumbria Deaf Association take the view that it costs more in staff turnover if people are leaving because of pay, than it does to invest the money in paying fair for a days work.

"The Living Wage accreditation is in conjunction with our local purchasing policy where we focus on buying from within Cumbria, which supports the local economy and communities."