HOUSING association workers have benefited from a wage rise after the organisation joined a national fair pay campaign.

Livin is one of five housing associations in the North-East that has committed to the Living Wage Foundation which increases the minimum hourly rate for workers to £7.65 an hour, £1.34 an hour more than the national minimum wage.

Shane Gavin, an administration apprentice, said: “The pay increase has made a massive difference to my way of life. I am now able to do things I just couldn’t afford to do before.”

Alan Boddy, and executive director at Livin, said: "As an employer we are committed to ensuring our employees receive a fair days pay for the job they do. Research nationally has shown paying the Living Wage  benefits both the business and the employee with its introduction improving motivation, loyalty and attendance."

The Living Wage Foundation is a voluntary scheme which commits employers to pay low paid workers a set hourly rate that is independently calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK.

Since its introduction more than 300,000 low paid workers have received a pay rise worth on average up to £400 a year.