What and where the project is
Healthier Wealthier Families (HWF) began as a pilot programme in Newham and Tower Hamlets to test how embedding financial support within healthcare pathways and community settings can improve wellbeing for families experiencing financial hardship. It’s been funded by the ELFT Charity, Newham Council, Tower Hamlets Council and Act Early, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and builds on an international collaborative to address poverty as a determinant of child health.
The programme at ELFT aims to create an easy referral pathway for families to access welfare benefits and money advice in the same building where they attend routine health appointments. It is targeted at population groups which we know are most in need of financial support.
Any Specialist Children & Young People’s Services (SCYPS) staff member can refer families to the programme. Once referred, expert advisers from Our Newham Money contact families within a week to arrange appointments at West Ham Lane Health Centre or their Stratford office.
Following the success of the pilot, HWF received a second year of funding through the ELFT Charity and Newham Council. A follow-up evaluation demonstrated real impact, showing that the programme continues to strengthen financial stability for families most in need.
Who delivers it
HWF is delivered in partnership between SCYPS and Our Newham Money, Newham Council’s financial advice service. Advisers provide support with benefit entitlements, debt management, budgeting and appeals processes, taking a holistic approach to helping families to improve their financial security and wellbeing.
Who it helps
Financial stress is one of the biggest factors affecting family wellbeing. Traditionally, families were signposted to external services, often facing long waits and additional barriers to getting help.
HWF changes this by making financial advice accessible and responsive within the healthcare setting. This helps reduce stigma to accessing help and provides support in a familiar and trusted setting. So far, it has helped Newham families access around £1 million in benefits they are entitled to but previously unaware of.
Families have used this support to bulk buy food, purchase essential medical equipment for their children, and celebrate milestones like birthdays, helping to reduce stress and improve quality of life.
The difference it has made so far
An independent evaluation by UCL of its first year found that the programme is making a significant difference. On average, each carer accessed around £6,000 in previously unclaimed financial support, leading to improvements in both financial stability and mental wellbeing.
These positive outcomes led to further investment in the service. HWF continues to demonstrate real impact, having supported 171 SCYPS families to access 296 referrals to date.
Next steps for the project
Now in its third year, funding by Newham Council’s public health grant is supporting expansion of Healthier Wealthier Families to three additional children and young people specialist healthcare sites across Newham. As well as West Ham Lane Health Centre, referrals will also be made from:
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Applebee Health Centre, E16 1LQ
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Lord Lister Health Centre, E7 0EP
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East Ham Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre, E6 6EN
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Newham’s Perinatal Mental Health services
Also, as part of the expansion, a Family Hubs Family Navigator from Newham Council will be based at West Ham Lane Health Centre every Wednesday afternoon to help families access a wide range of available support and share insights on the types of advice most frequently sought.
The programme’s success shows the power of cross-sector collaboration: combining ELFT’s frontline services, UCL’s research and evaluation expertise, local authority leadership, and global knowledge exchange to deliver measurable impact for communities.
A huge thank you to our dedicated teams, partners, families, and advisors whose passion, trust, and commitment have made this achievement possible.
Service User Quotes
“My family were on the verge of homelessness, council tax arrears and rent arrears were in the thousands, I have two children with severe disabilities and was unable to cope due my benefits being reduced. The amazing advisers challenged the DWP`s decision and I was paid back missing elements of Universal Credit, carers benefits and a Discretionary Housing Payment was awarded to financially support me with the high private rent shortfall and paid off majority of my arrears. My family can stay in our home, my children have stability, I am so thankful”.
"Having a possible solution to a problem that feels outside of my realm was incredibly powerful"