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Norwich Bishop urges churches to pay Living Wage

BishopNorwich370The Diocese of Norwich has announced that its Board of Finance has become a Living Wage employer and the Bishop of Norwich is encouraging other churches across Norwich and Norfolk to join it.

 
Bishop Graham (pictured right) has invited church leaders and anyone else interested to attend a small event and discussion at Granary Court, next to Bishop’s House in Norwich on November 14 at 10.30am. The event follows on from Living Wage Week from November 2-8.
 
The event will hear from Tony Gammage chair (and diocesan representative) of Living Wage Norwich.
 
Bishop Graham said: “Tony will speak about the Living Wage, encouraging churches in Norwich and Norfolk to ensure that their paid staff are remunerated at Living Wage levels. It is appreciated that this is already true for many of our churches and so it would be good for us to support the Living Wage Foundation explicitly.
 
“Church leaders have been vocal in supporting the Living Wage in a society where the divergence between the richest and the poorest has grown consistently in recent years. I hope this event will ensure we are much better informed.”
 
Tony is also appealing to Norwich churches to become involved with the Living Wage week celebrations and also, if possible, with Living Wage Norwich. He said: “The first day of Living Wage week is Sunday, November 2 (All Saints), and we ask that prayers are said for those working people who are experiencing hardship and finding it difficult to support their families financially and in other ways, often through excessive working hours.
 
“If you wish to undertake other activities during or outside services, I have details of a document produced for churches that has been commissioned by the Living Wage Foundation. I feel it important that churches of different denominations, who have been involved in setting up this campaign, should be centrally involved in the Living Wage week celebrations in Norwich. We would welcome youth group involvement and help from parishioners.

"Canon Peter Howard has written an inter-denominational prayer for Living Wage week that we wish to distribute nationally as well as locally. St Peter Mancroft has already agreed to use such a prayer each day of Living Wage week," said Tony. 
 
According to the Living Wage Foundation the Living Wage rate for the UK (excluding London) is £7.65 per hour, compared to the current Minimum Wage of £6.50.
 
For further information or to explore ways in which you could help contact Tony on 01953 453633 or at: tony.gammage@which.net
 
If you intend attending the Bishop’s event then please drop an email to Bishop's Chaplain, Rev James Stewart, at bishops.chaplain@dioceseofnorwich.org.
 
 www.livingwage.org.uk
 
www.livingwagenorwich.org.uk


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