A BELIEF that people deserve more is the inspiration behind an Edinburgh-based charity – and that philosophy includes paying the Living Wage.

Upward Mobility provides support and opportunities for adults with learning difficulties and autism.

Founded 11 years ago by managing director Josh Barton, the charity now employs 97 people and is continuing to grow.

Former support worker Barton’s belief that people deserved more drove him to create Upward Mobility and from the outset the charity has supported the Living Wage.

“Our most valuable resource is our people – we are respected and trusted for the quality of our people-driven services – and are always striving to be better,” he said. “We aim to be thought-leaders and an active voice in promoting equality and opportunities for people with learning difficulties.

“However, in order to achieve this aim, we very much depend on quality staff who are passionate about their work. The Living Wage is about recognising not only the value that these people are able to bring to our organisation but the quality that they add to the lives of those they support not just within Upward Mobility but across all support service providers.

“Joining the Living Wage movement goes hand in hand with one of our core values – respect – to ensure that every individual is truly recognised and valued.”

As well as providing tailored support services, Upward Mobility has a growing reputation for its curriculum of creative workshops, educational activities and vocational programmes. The charity provides support and workshops to people from Edinburgh and the Lothians and operates from St Margaret’s House at Meadowbank, Prestonpans Resource Centre and North Berwick. The charity also provides support in the community.

Its extensive range of high-quality educational workshops are structured around the Curriculum for Excellence. Workshops are designed to enable compatibility with colleges and other educational providers. The charity offers access courses, delivered through the SQA unit structure, which can be accredited by its educational partners.

“The collaborative learning environment serves to promote self-confidence and the development of personal skills and abilities through practical learning,” said Barton.

Activities and workshops primarily take place at the charity’s headquarters at Edinburgh Palette but it also runs satellite projects at Prestonpans Community Centre and Community Gardens in East Lothian.

The real Living Wage of at least £8.45 per hour is significantly higher than government minimum wage of £6.70 and the new minimum wage premium for over-25s of £7.50 per hour introduced last April.

The real Living Wage is an hourly rate, calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the best available evidence on living standards in the UK. It is higher than the UK Government’s so-called “living wage” which is just a rebranding of the legally binding minimum wage and only applies to those over the age of 25.

The real Living Wage applies to everyone over the age of 18 “in recognition that young people face the same living costs as everyone else”.

Employers choose to pay the real living wage on a voluntary basis. More than 3000 employers across the UK have pledged to pay the real Living Wage, over 800 of them in Scotland.