Dumfries and Galloway charity supporting disabled people wins triple accreditation
DG Voice is the first in the South of Scotland to achieve Living Wage, Living Hours, and Living Pension status
Dumfries and Galloway charity DG Voice has achieved a notable milestone by being awarded triple accreditation from Living Wage Scotland.
The charity is recognised as a Living Wage Employer, has Living Hours status, and supports the Living Pension scheme.
DG Voice is the first charity in the South of Scotland and the first employer in Dumfries and Galloway to simultaneously meet all three standards.
The accreditations reflect DG Voice’s commitment to ensuring staff receive a real living wage, predictable working hours, and support for a secure retirement.
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Fair employment practices emphasised
Kim Dams, Chief Executive of DG Voice, emphasised the importance of fair employment practices, stating:
"As a disabled people’s organisation, fairness, dignity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do.
"We cannot credibly champion the rights of disabled people unless we provide our own staff with a genuine living wage, stable hours and long-term financial security."
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Comprehensive employment standards
According to DG Voice, the real Living Wage exceeds the government’s National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage standards.
It is calculated annually based on actual living costs, currently set at £13.45 per hour across the UK and £13.85 in London.
Living Hours guarantee workers predictable scheduling and adequate hours, while Living Pension requires meaningful contributions from employers to support retirement planning.
Lynn Anderson, Manager of Living Wage Scotland, praised DG Voice’s achievement:
"We are delighted that DG Voice has achieved Living Wage, Living Hours and Living Pension accreditations.
"They join a significant and growing movement of employers across Scotland who aim to protect workers against low wages and insecure work."
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Inspiration for other organisations
DG Voice has expressed a willingness to assist other organisations in pursuing similar accreditations and achieving Disability Confidence.
The charity leaders hope that their success will inspire other entities to strive towards fair employment practices.
DG Voice's achievement highlights its leadership in ethical employment practices within the voluntary sector, especially among organisations led by and for disabled people.
The charity plans to continue advocating for systemic change to ensure disabled people can access fair wages, secure employment, and financial security.
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