By Dr Kirsteen Croll, Chief Executive Officer, Friends of Dundonald Castle SCIO
At Friends of Dundonald Castle SCIO (SC031541), community is at the heart of everything we do. From preserving our heritage and welcoming visitors to supporting local groups and delivering educational opportunities, our work is only possible because of the incredible people behind it.
That is why we are proud to have become an accredited Real Living Wage Employer.
As a charity, we are fortunate to have a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who go above and beyond every day. Whether they are welcoming visitors to the Castle, delivering community activities, supporting educational programmes, caring for our historic site, or helping create memorable experiences for people of all ages, their passion and commitment are what make Dundonald Castle and Visitor Centre/Community Hub such a special place.
In 2025, we welcomed over 30,000 visitors and were honoured to receive the Partnership Award at the South Ayrshire Council Thriving Communities Adult and Family Learning Awards in 2025, recognising the strength of our collaborations and the impact of our community work. These achievements reflect the hard work, enthusiasm and dedication of our team.
Becoming a real Living Wage Employer is one way we can recognise and reward that commitment.
The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate based on the actual cost of living. By choosing to pay the real Living Wage, we are making a clear statement about the value we place on our staff and our belief that everyone deserves fair pay for the work they do.
For us, this is about more than meeting a benchmark. It is about living our values as a community and focused charity. We believe that people should feel respected, supported and valued in their workplace. Paying the real Living Wage helps provide greater financial security for our team and demonstrates our commitment to creating a positive and supportive working environment.
Our team work incredibly hard to deliver an award-winning experience for our visitors and community. They are the people who bring history to life, support our growing programme of community activities and ensuring that everyone who visits Dundonald Castle receives a warm Ayrshire welcome. Their contribution has a lasting impact on the people we serve, and we are proud to invest in them.
As an organisation, we know that when we invest in our people, everyone benefits. Fair pay helps us attract and retain talented individuals, strengthens staff wellbeing and morale, and supports the long-term sustainability of our charity.
This accreditation is therefore an important milestone for FoDC. It reflects our commitment not only to our staff, but also to building a stronger, fairer and more resilient organisation for the future.
Most importantly, it is a recognition of the people whose hard work, dedication and passion makes everything we do possible. We are incredibly grateful to our team and proud to be able to support them through our commitment to the real Living Wage.