It has been 5 years since I ran for any reason other than to catch the bus.  Back in 2011 I didn't have kids, lived in London, and was fit enough to run a marathon.  Many things have changed!

I am not arguing that there is a connection between these things, but my decline in fitness has been as steep as the increase in the success of Citizens UK's Living Wage - a voluntary hourly rate set independently and updated annually, calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK.  It means paying people like cleaners, careworkers and shop assistants enough to live a decent life, not just to survive. 

Back in those days, the Living Wage was £7.20 an hour and there were very few accredited Living Wage employers.  From April this year the Living Wage for Wales will be £8.25 an hour, and there are over 2,000 accredited Living Wage employers (including 60 based in Wales).  The Living Wage has put over £210 million extra into the pockets of thousands of low-paid workers.  The idea has been so successful that the Chancellor has nicked the name and used it for his own increase in the minimum wage for over 25s (the 'national living wage' of £7.20 an hour comes in from April - it is compulsory and not based on the cost of living).  

Although many organisations are choosing to accredit as Living Wage employers (it makes business sense and is the right thing to do) many have to be persuaded to do so, and that is where Citizens UK and Citizens Cymru Wales have been successful, training ordinary people to run community organising campaigns to drive the Living Wage forward.

Wales needs more Living Wage employers. Recent research shows that over a quarter of workers here earn less than the Living Wage.  So, on March 17th, at the Citizens Cymru Governance of Wales Accountability Assembly, 700 community leaders from across Wales will gather with the leaders of the four main political parties and ask them to work us to make Wales a Living Wage economy over the next 5 years. 

We will ask them to use their power over taxpayers' money to promote the Living Wage for Wales, and in parallel, Citizens Cymru Wales will commit to training hundreds more Living Wage campaigners to increase the number of accredited Living Wage employers in Wales by 150 (including 15 iconic Welsh brands).

We are a charity and although we are mostly funded by our member institutions, we are always grateful for donations which can increase our impact - which is why I am running this race.  I am being put through my paces by the UK's only accredited Living Wage Personal Training company - www.fitm8.eu - who are based in Barry.    

Thank you for reading this far - and please consider donating to support the Living Wage for Wales. 

Diolch yn fawr!

Jonathan.

P.S. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for us.