Research by the Living Wage Foundation has revealed that one in eight UK charity sector jobs are blighted by low pay.

It found that 12% of roles in the sector are paid less than the real Living Wage, which considers the cost of living.

The proportion has increased since last year, when one in ten charity workers were paid below the real Living Wage.

The Foundation warns that rates of low pay in charities are more than double rates of low pay in the public sector, where one in 20 roles are impacted.

Based on analysis of latest Office for National Statistics figures the number of low paid UK charity sector jobs rose to 286,000 over the last year.

Regionally, the Northeast is the worst for wages, where almost one in five charity workers are paid below the real Living Wage. The best is the Southeast, where less than one in ten charity sector staffers are paid below this level.

Care workers, charity shop workers and entry level roles are among the worst hit by low pay.

Further research published last year by the Foundation found that two in five low paid workers across all sectors are forced to rely on foodbanks and one in three have skipped meals.

More than two in three low paid workers say their financial situation is negatively affecting their mental health.

Charities and funders sign pledge

The Foundation points out that more than 2,000 charities, including Oxfam, Shelter, Macmillan and WWF are accredited with the Living Wage Foundation, committing them to pay more than the Real Living Wage.

“Charities that are accredited as Living Wage Employers tend to see better retention, recruitment and worker wellbeing, and they do better at attracting people from all backgrounds into the sector,” said Living Wage Foundation executive director Katherine Chapman.

“Staff from working class backgrounds continue to be underrepresented in the charity sector, and the real Living Wage helps to ensure that no one has to turn down a job because they don’t have access to savings or to financial help from family.”

She added that more than 80 grant making organisations are now committed to being Living Wage funders, to structure fair pay into their grant making processes.

Among Living Wage funders is Surrey based Walton Charity.

“We have been an accredited Living Wage Employer for a number of years but recently became an accredited Living Wage Funder as well,” said its chief executive Rob Mills.

“As a place-based charitable foundation in one of the most expensive parts of the country, it is important for us to support our grantees and local partners to pay the real Living Wage to their workers."

The real living wage according to the Foundation is £12.60 outside London and £13.85 in the capital. Across all sectors in the UK around one in six jobs are low paid, it found.

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