EMPLOYEES at two Keighley-based social care support services have double cause for celebration.

Charity Making Space has announced two pay rises in three months for its workers.

The organisation employs more than 20 people between Bradford and Airedale Carer Support – which supports family carers – and Wellbeing Service Bradford and Airedale, which provides one-to-one support to people living with mental health diagnoses.

Making Space says it will pay all employees at least £9.90 an hour from April, calculated using a recommended voluntary 'real living wage'. Under the move, full-time support workers will earn an additional £1,700 per year.

And the charity has already started to pay the new UK statutory national living wage from last month – three months ahead of schedule.

The organisation says all its frontline care and support workers will benefit.

Phil Orton, executive director of human resources with Making Space, says: "Our long-standing aspiration has been to pay our colleagues at a rate that makes them feel rewarded for their work.

"Despite working through the most challenging times over the last two years, they continue to provide outstanding care and support to some of the most vulnerable people in society. They deserve to be paid at a level that takes account of the real cost of living which is why we want to pay a real living wage.

"These are professional, skilled people and need to be rewarded as so. Our sector faces unprecedented change and significant challenges. At a strategic level, it’s vital for Making Space to address low pay levels, recruitment challenges and high turnover.

"But whilst we will continue to do everything we can to attract and train the best people to deliver outstanding care and support, we also need the Government to do a lot more.

"We need reforms in the health and social care sector to bring people more in line with their NHS colleagues, who receive higher pay and better benefits. Short-term solutions, whilst welcomed, do not address low pay and skills shortages."

Rachel Peacock, chief executive officer of Making Space, described the efforts of its staff as "nothing short of incredible".

"That is particularly the case for those teams on the frontline where the experience of the pandemic has been relentless," she said.

"We absolutely value the hard work, commitment and sacrifice of the amazing people who provide best-quality care and support to those that use our services."