Kicking on with Dundee’s Living Wage City Ambitions

The ‘Making Dundee a Living Wage City’ campaign has entered its 6^th year and a senior councillor has visited a local employer to meet with staff who have benefitted from accreditation.

Kanzen for Life is an award-winning social enterprise charity who support over 1,200 people weekly through physical exercise, education and wellbeing. They are well known in the city for excelling in Karate but also offer a wide range of classes and programmes for all ages and backgrounds, delivering an impressive range of community activities each week.

They have been accredited as a Living Wage employer since 2022 and have recently joined the Dundee Living Wage Action Group as a partner member following on from being a vocal, passionate supporter of the Living Wage movement.

Oliver Bruce, a team member at Kanzen for Life, met with Cllr Steven Rome to discuss how the uplift in pay and working for an accredited employer has benefitted him. 

Oliver said: “Paying the Living Wage at Kanzen for Life shows that we genuinely value our team. For me, it’s not just about fair pay – it’s about respect, dignity, and creating a positive environment where people can thrive, both in work and life."

Oliver has also written a blog about why being living wage accredited is important to him as an employee and to Kanzen for Life as his employer.

Roy O'Kane, Charity Chief Officer at Kanzen for Life, said: "Paying the Living Wage is about fairness, respecting the dignity of hard work, and showing our team they’re valued. When we treat people right, they stay, they grow, and they bring their best to everything we do."

Councillor Steven Rome, Convener of Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure said: “I was pleased to take up the opportunity to visit Kanzen for Life and speak with Oliver and Roy about their role in the local community and thank them for the positive impact they have had in Dundee.

“They have enhanced the reputation of the city by supporting major events as well as working to improve the health and wellbeing of citizens of all ages. It was also clear to me that they are really proud of being Living Wage accredited and that it goes hand in hand with their ethos as an organisation.”

This year the action group will be finalising the new Living Wage Action Plan, leading the implementation of the new Living Wage branding, attending key events, meeting with accredited employers and running the Living Wage Week 2025 programme.

Cllr Rome added: “We look forward to seeing their future plans come to fruition and are pleased that they have joined the group and know they will make many valuable contributions.

“I highly recommend anyone interested in becoming accredited to read Oliver’s eloquently written blog as it clearly highlights the benefits of paying the Living Wage. The action group is ready and waiting to hear from you.”

More information about the ‘Making A Living Wage Living City’ campaign as well as contact details for the action group can be found on the council’s website.