TAP Founder Rev Paul Nicolson receives Posthumous Living Wage Foundation Award

London, 7 July 2026 –The Living Wage Foundation has honoured Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP)  founder late Rev Paul Nicolson, with its 2026 In Memoriam Award, recognising his lifetime of service to social justice and his pioneering contribution to the Living Wage movement.

The award recognises Rev Nicolson as "a tireless campaigner for social justice and one of the founding figures behind the Living Wage movement." It highlights his decades of advocacy, including the founding of the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust and Taxpayers Against Poverty, his determination to defend the rights of people living in poverty, and his work to ensure everyone could afford a decent standard of living. The Living Wage Foundation also acknowledged that his pioneering work on minimum income standards helped lay the foundations for today's Living Wage movement.

Rev Paul Nicolson founded Taxpayers Against Poverty on a simple but powerful principle: poverty is not inevitable—it is the result of political and economic choices. Throughout his life he challenged policies that trapped people in poverty, campaigned against unfair taxation and debt collection practices, and consistently argued that government should ensure everyone had sufficient income to meet their basic needs with dignity.

Tom Burgess, CEO of Taxpayers Against Poverty, accepted the award on behalf of Rev Paul, he said:

"This is a fitting and richly deserved tribute to a remarkable man whose ideas and determination changed the national conversation about poverty and fairness.

Paul was never interested in simply highlighting injustice. He wanted practical solutions. He believed that no one in one of the world's richest countries should be unable to afford food, heating or a secure home.

Long before poverty prevention became part of the national debate, Paul was making the economic as well as the moral case for ensuring people had enough income to live with dignity."

Rev Nicolson's work brought together faith, economics and public policy. His campaigns on debt, Council Tax, minimum income standards and the Living Wage influenced charities, academics, churches, parliamentarians and policymakers across the UK.

His legacy continues through Taxpayers Against Poverty, which today campaigns for practical reforms to reduce poverty, inequality and financial hardship. Under the Prioritise Poverty Prevention campaign, TAP is working with MPs, charities, businesses and communities to develop policies that prevent poverty rather than simply managing its consequences.

Tom Burgess added:

"Paul always believed that compassion and sound economics belonged together. Today's award is not only recognition of his extraordinary contribution but also a reminder that his vision remains as relevant today as it was when he first began campaigning. We are proud to continue building on the foundations he laid and to work towards the fairer Britain that he believed was both possible and achievable."

The Living Wage Foundation's recognition of Rev Nicolson also reflects the enduring importance of ensuring that work provides a genuine route out of poverty and that public policy is judged by its impact on those with the least.

Taxpayers Against Poverty congratulates the Living Wage Foundation on recognising one of the movement's true pioneers and thanks it for ensuring that Rev Paul Nicolson's legacy will continue to inspire future generations of campaigners.

About Rev Paul Nicolson

Rev Paul Nicolson (1927–2020) was an Anglican priest, social justice campaigner and founder of both the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust and Taxpayers Against Poverty. For more than three decades he campaigned tirelessly against poverty, debt, unfair taxation and inadequate social security, becoming one of the UK's most respected advocates for economic justice. His work on minimum income standards and the Living Wage helped shape national policy debates and inspired countless organisations and individuals working to tackle poverty.

ENDS

For media enquiries, interviews, or comment: Tom Burgess, CEO, Taxpayers Against PovertyEmail: taxpayersagainstpoverty@gmail.comWebsite: www.taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk

About Taxpayers Against PovertyTaxpayers against Poverty is a UK-based independent advocacy group dedicated to tackling poverty, inequality, and economic injustice TAP seeks to influence national and local policy by promoting practical economic proposals that have a positive effect on reducing poverty and unnecessary financial hardship using a direct approach to decision makers and other influencers.

TAP was founded by the late Rev Paul Nicolson and is led by Tom Burgess, author of From Here to Prosperity, a new political agenda for a sustainable economy and greater social justice, which proposes taxing wealth more and income less. TAP’s sister organisation is Compassion in Politics which seeks to bring more honesty, respect and compassion into political life.