Ark Housing - Living Wage Regional Winner

The awards, coordinated by the Living Wage Foundation, recognise Living Wage Employers that have made great contributions to communities and industries by implementing and celebrating the Living Wage. The awards are part of Living Wage Week 2014, a national celebration of responsible pay, running from 2nd-8th November.

Living Wage Foundation Director, Rhys Moore said: “Congratulations to Ark Housing Association on being named the Champion Award winner for the region. With 1,000 employers now accredited, it is wonderful to have Ark Housing leading the way in Northern Ireland. The leadership of responsible employers is making a real difference to families and communities across the UK. Thank you very much for celebrating the Living Wage.”

Tony Ruddy, Chief Executive, Ark Housing, said: “We are delighted to receive the Living Wage Champion Award and hope that other employers here will recognise the benefits that the Living Wage can bring to their business and the positive impact that it has on our communities. Every employee has the right to be treated with respect and dignity and it is unacceptable that an increasing number of families in employment are remaining in poverty. We intend to continue the campaign to end the social injustice of the low wage economy”.

The Living Wage Foundation offers a recognition mark for employers that commit to paying the Living Wage. There are now over 1,000 accredited employers.

One Champion Award winner has been named in each region of the UK: Scotland; Wales; Northern Ireland; the East Midlands; the West Midlands; the East of England; Yorkshire and the Humber; North East England; North West England; South East England; South West England; and London.

The awards were judged by an independent panel of community leaders from the Citizens UK Living Wage campaign. In total 75 organisations were shortlisted for the awards.

 ENDS

 Media Contact

Ark Housing

Sunita Chada, Corporate Services Officer, Ark Housing Association

Units 17/18 North City Business Centre, Duncairn Gardens, Belfast, BT15 2GG

Tel: 028 9075 2310; www.arkhousing.co.uk; Email: [email protected]

 Living Wage

Gillian Owen [email protected] 020 7043 9882

Notes to Editors

About Ark Housing Association

• Ark Housing is a registered housing association with the Department for Social Development (DSD) and the Industrial & Provident Society Registrar (IPS).

• We provide social rented accommodation throughout Northern Ireland for families, the elderly, people with disabilities, singles and others in housing need.

• Working with our partners, we provide housing and support services to people recovering from mental illness, those with learning difficulties and homeless families.

• We are a registered charity and ‘not for profit’ organisation.

• We are the only housing association in Northern Ireland to own, manage and directly deliver support services to homeless families at our family centres in Belfast.

   

  About the Living Wage Foundation

The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK. Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage enjoys cross party support, with public backing from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. 

The Living Wage Foundation recognises and celebrates the leadership shown by Living Wage employers across the UK. There are now over 1,000 accredited employers. We are an initiative of Citizens UK. We believe that work should be the surest way out of poverty.