Runners raise awareness of pay inequality

Students and staff from the University of Northampton have raised awareness of pay inequality – and hundreds of pounds for an equality organisation, in the process.

A 5km fun run was held at Park Campus on Thursday 10 November to highlight the national issue of pay inequality – the Fawcett Society nominates Equal Pay Day every year as the day after which, on average, women start to work for free.

In addition to raising awareness, the run raised almost £800 for the Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council (NREC).

Melanie Crofts, who is chair of NREC, and a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University, said: “I’d like to thank the staff and students who took part in the #EqualPay5k fundraising run.

“With cuts in local government funding as well as the introduction of employment tribunal fees, NREC is continually fighting for funding to continue its work in representing victims of discrimination as well as carrying out public legal education work and raising the profile of issues around equality and human rights.

“NREC is the only organisation in the county offering specialised free advice and representation to victims of discrimination and we would like to continue with this important work. Such fundraising initiatives are therefore really valued.”