A Gateshead social enterprise is delivering a programme of advice and information to enable employers to take action and support employees to improve their financial wellbeing.
Supported by North of Tyne Combined Authority as part of the Child Poverty Prevention Programme, Society Matters cic is leading workshops, strategy sessions and employee surveys, free of charge for businesses based in Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside. Taking place until next July, the employer-focused programme includes workshops aimed at exploring the welfare support system, the realities of poverty and the impact it has on their employees and their families, alongside equipping leaders with the knowledge and skills to take practical steps to help.
Jayne Graham, project director for Society Matters cic, said: “Our aspiration for this programme is to deepen understanding amongst employers of the realities of in-work poverty whilst, most importantly, supporting them to put in place practical measures that will make a real difference to the financial wellbeing of their staff and in turn, workplace satisfaction and productivity.
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“There is no silver bullet solution, but we have already identified best practice through talking to employers and charities across the region, which will be fairly straight-forward to replicate. Business leaders have told us they want to do something beyond the obvious pay and benefits, but they aren’t sure what.
“Our job is to make sure they have the insight, tools and support they need to take immediate action to help their staff to avoid financial problems spiralling out of control.”
The launch of the programme comes three months after it emerged that the North East has the highest rate of child poverty in key worker households in the UK. The research by the TUC showed that 41% of key worker households have children living in poverty in the region, with 70,000 North East children growing up in poverty this year.
Society Matters cic and the Combined Authority aim to encourage regional businesses to recognise the reality of in-work poverty and to play an active role in tackling child poverty across the region. Ms Graham added: “The news of the North East having the highest rate of child poverty just further cements that more has to be done within the region.
“Employers can play a critical part in making sure their employees get the help they need, so if we can convert the interest we’re seeing from more businesses and help them into taking positive action, we could start to see a real difference being made.”
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