ONE of Scotland’s leading cancer charities has joined the growing number of organisations signing up for Scottish Living Wage Accreditation.

Beatson Cancer Charity employs more than 70 people and has a large team of volunteers all helping to deliver the organisation’s ambitious strategy and vision.

In its first three years it has secured total income for its planned expenditure of more than £14 million as it develops ways to help battle cancer and support sufferers and their families.

The £14m raised has allowed the provision and expansion of a wide range of high-quality patient and family support services and the delivery of many projects to benefit people affected by cancer including funding specialist clinical staff, world-leading research projects, cancer education and awareness initiatives and innovative service developments.

As a “responsible, diverse, ethical and flexible employer”, the organisation is proud to be a real Living Wage provider, says chief executive David Welch.

This commitment will mean that all staff receive a minimum hourly wage of £8.45 – significantly higher than the National Minimum Wage.

“Without our talented, hard-working and passionate team, a lot of what the charity provides and delivers would simply not be possible,” said Welch.

“It is therefore a priority that their commitment is appreciated and rewarded.

“Paying the Living Wage is just part of our pledge as an ethical employer.

“By rewarding, nurturing and developing staff we will have better retention and a continued motivated workforce which is important in any organisation, but particularly when working in a third sector environment.”

Welch added: “Introducing the living wage was extremely important – we want to ensure all employees are paid a fair wage in recognition of the value they bring to the organisation.

“As the team works hard to help and support others, it is our responsibility to look after and empower them. The Living Wage allows us to do just that, and much more.”

With 30,000 people in Scotland being told they have cancer every year and trends predicting that this number is likely to rise to almost 35,000 by 2020, Beatson Cancer Charity plays an increasingly fundamental and critical role in the fight against cancer.

As an independent organisation, and through a unique partnership with the NHS and the wider community, Beatson Cancer Charity provides high quality patient and family support services through its award-winning Wellbeing Centre, throughout the wards and departments of The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and at cancer treatment facilities across the west of Scotland.

The charity also funds specialist clinical staff, world leading research projects, cancer education and awareness initiatives and innovative service developments.

Since it was launched in April 2014, more than 600 organisations in Scotland have signed up to the living wage scheme to become accredited as real Living Wage employers, which means they pay their workers at least £8.45 per hour.

For more information about Beatson Cancer Charity, visit www.beatsoncancercharity.org, call 0141 212 0505 or email info@beatsoncancercharity.org