Continuing the Three Quick Questions series, we’re shining a light on Caroline Ridley, CEO of Impact Initiatives
Impact Initiatives is a Sussex-based charity founded in 1978 to provide a voice, hope and change for people in need. We support individuals from birth to 100+ through services that promote independence, wellbeing, and opportunity. Our work includes the Ageing Well service in Brighton & Hove, the Young People’s Centre in central Brighton, Workability employment support, and advocacy services that empower people to be heard and take control of their lives.
What makes us unique is our deep-rooted, responsive approach to local need. We achieve our impact by offering the right support at the right time and by collaborating to design and deliver services that meet people’s diverse and changing needs. This collaborative ethos is embedded within our organisation, across our different service teams, and extends to our work with like-minded charitable partners. These strong, values-led partnerships help us reach more people and ensure our support is as effective and inclusive as possible.
It was a natural decision for us. Our work is all about supporting dignity, opportunity and fairness for people in Sussex, and that must start within our own organisation. We want all our staff to feel valued and respected, and this is one of the most practical ways to demonstrate that commitment. It aligns with our values and our belief in creating positive, lasting change in people’s lives. As part of this we strive to ensure all of our partners and businesses we link with also pay the Real Living Wage.
Fair pay is essential to everything we stand for. We support people who are often experiencing inequality, disadvantage or uncertainty; and we believe our team deserves to be protected from those same challenges. Fair pay helps us attract and retain dedicated, skilled staff who are vital to delivering high-quality, person-centred services. It also reinforces our credibility and leadership in the charity sector as an organisation that not only advocates for fairness, but lives by it.
A big thank you to Penny and Caroline from Impact Initiatives for sharing these insights – and, of course, for being a Living Wage employer!
Can you help us reach 1000 Living Wage employers in Brighton & Hove?
Find out more about the Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign here. If you think you’re already a Living Wage employer, or would like to sign up, head over to this page to get started (it’s free!)
Our staff make Enter Gallery a must-see destination for art lovers. We recognise that the qualifications, skills and experience of our employees are what makes us such a trusted brand for art advice. We therefore wholeheartedly support the Brighton Living Wage campaign.
For my own business, it would be crazy and wrong to pay people less than the Living Wage. For Brighton and Hove, it's important that we have successful businesses, a thriving economy, and happy and healthy employees.
If you are in the lucky position to employ people, make sure they are paid what they need to live.
We support Living Wage because we believe it is important that people are paid a fair and just wage that will allow them to live a reasonably comfortable life. We also believe that if you value your staff with good wages they will become the strongest asset of your business.
OVESCO believes everyone should be paid the living wage in the UK.
