Is your business interested in developing a greater understanding around how people in poverty have been impacted by the pandemic to see if there is any support you can offer? Join our online event being held on 10th November from 5pm to 6:30pm via Zoom! (The joining details shall be sent closer to the date to those who have registered for the event.)
As we rebuild our society and economy in the recovery from Covid-19, we now have an opportunity to address issues associated with poverty that have worsened under the pandemic. We have been shocked and saddened to hear some of the stories of people going hungry in our City during the pandemic due to drops in income, and low income households feeling isolated, unable to book healthcare appointments or take part in home schooling due to not having reliable broadband during lockdown.
The last few months have been challenging for both workers and businesses, so not all businesses will be in a position to help us support individuals in poverty. For those that can, we want to share ideas of actions you might undertake, especially in collaboration with the voluntary and community sector. We also want to make the case for paying a real Living Wage to lowest paid staff members to businesses that can afford to.
At the online event on 10th November there will be presentations from:
- Cambridge Community Foundation on next steps for the Cambridgeshire Coronavirus Fund that has been supporting vulnerable people during the pandemic
- The Living Wage Foundation
- Local voluntary and community sector organisations helping to tackle digital exclusion
Cambridge City Council has recently produced its Anti-Poverty Strategy for 2020 to 2023 that shows how a range of different factors and organisations have an influence on poverty. In responding to needs from Covid, many individuals, businesses and other organisations have been pulling together and demonstrated the huge influence of collaborating to meet local need. For instance, Cambridge Food Poverty Alliance quickly mobilised to develop a structure of food support for vulnerable residents, and food businesses have been donating to organisations that are members of the Alliance to help meet their needs. This online event is for businesses based in or that work in Cambridge city in the UK and that want to work with others to make a difference.
It is being held to mark Living Wage Week 9th to 15th November, which is a national campaign run by the Living Wage Foundation. During the week new rates are announced of the real Living Wage that is independently calculated according to living costs. Employers up and down the country host events to celebrate employers that are accredited with the Living Wage Foundation and aim to grow the movement.
