A new campaign has been launched to have Cornwall designated as the first county in the UK to be officially recognised as a Living Wage Place.  

A group of cross-sector organisations joined forces at St Michael’s Church in Newquay to encourage Cornwall leaders to work together to make the dream a reality. 

Among the speakers at the event included Sophie Hosking from Cornwall Council, Jessie Leigh from Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and Edward Chapman of Federation of Small Business (FSB), who fully endorsed the proposal for a Cornwall-wide campaign from a local authority and business perspective.  

The next step is for an action group to be accredited by the Living Wage Foundation and for that group to plan to encourage businesses of all type and size to commit to paying the real living wage. 

The event was held as part of the annual Challenge Poverty Week in England and Wales.  

Figures from Citizens UK in November 2022 suggested that 13 per cent of all workers in Cornwall are not paid the real living wage (about 25,000 workers). 

If 25% per cent of those were uplifted to receiving the Real Living Wage then Citizens UK say this would mean a GVA uplift of £11.2 million pounds (based on one year from November 22 to November 2023).  From June to July 2022 Truro Food Bank fed 616 people; in the same period this year they fed 832 people and 464 of these people said their income did not allow them to afford the essentials. 

Nearly 100 people attended the campaign launch, which included representatives from organising committee such as Cornwall Independent Poverty Forum, Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum, End Hunger Cornwall, Newquay Food Bank and Truro Food Bank 

Andrew Yates, the chair of the Cornwall Independent Poverty Forum, said: “We were delighted to hear from so many organisations committing to join us in the campaign. 

“This week Glen Carne, a charity providing accommodation for vulnerable people, committed to Real Living Wage, so we are seeing results already, which is excellent.”

“It was reassuring to see over 100 people come to our event for Challenge Poverty Week.   

“We achieved the main aim, which was to raise the profile of the real Living Wage Place campaign for Cornwall.   

“This was a great opportunity to explain what this means for businesses and, most importantly, employees that are paid the minimum wage or do not have secure working hours.   

“There were inspirational talks from VIVA, a community group of residents relating their experiences and Patrick Langmaid, the business owner of Mother Ivey’s, who is a passionate advocate of the benefits of paying the real living wage.” 

CEO of Cornwall VSF, Emma Rowse added: “It is really challenging for lots of our small organisations because they are really small micro businesses – but this campaign is about enthusing people, getting them on board with a commitment to go on that journey together.”  Paul Green, from Cornwall Independent Poverty Forum, said: “This winter, the souring cost of living will deny dignity to many people in Cornwall.  

“Many people will be forced to choose between heating and eating; to skip meals so that their children can eat, to go cold and hungry, in one of the world’s richest countries.  

“We need to come together to uphold people’s dignity, make a positive change and work towards a just solution to the cost-of-living crisis.”