Living Wage

The real living wage is the only rate independently calculated annually, based on the real cost of living. The real living wage is voluntarily paid by UK businesses who believe their staff deserve a wage which meets everyday needs.

Work and mental health are inextricably linked. We heard from our communities about how work is good for our mental health. We also heard being unemployed, or in a challenging work environment, can have a significant negative impact on our wellbeing. Likewise, being on low or insecure wages causes stress and anxiety that can undermine our mental health. The pandemic had a devastating effect on the economy and businesses and services across the United Kingdom. This has been exacerbated through the cost of living crisis and ongoing financial pressure faced by south London communities.

We are working together with Living Wage Foundation

In 2021, South London Listens partners agreed to champion the living wage within the health sector and across local government. We are delighted that all three mental health trusts in south London have now been accredited and now seven NHS Trusts in total in south London are accredited. These developments have led to wage uplifts for 4,669 people. In the last year, Wandsworth and Merton councils have now joined 8 Councils across south London. This work has already lifted the wages of over 8,000 thousands of people.

List of all NHS Trusts and Councils accredited as of funancial year 2023/24

  • Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

  • Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust

  • Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

  • Hounslow & Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  • King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  • Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  • Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

  • London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  • Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

  • South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

  • South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust

  • Kingston Council

  • Richmond Council

  • Merton Council

  • Wandsworth Council

  • Lewisham Council

  • Lambeth Council

  • Southwark Council

  • Sutton Council

  • Croydon Council

  • Greenwich Council

“The Real Living Wage means fair pay to combat London’s rising cost of living, uplifting lowpaid workers from poverty. But often, just the Living Wage alone is not enough - insecure hours mean that work and income are not always guaranteed. Living Hours, a guarantee minimum of 16 hours per week and regular shifts, are crucial to help lowpaid workers to survive. We currently see seven Living Hours employers in London and look forward to more employers joining this figure.”

Tahira, King’s College London student