The Healthier Wealthier Families (HWF) initiative connects families accessing Family Hubs with expert financial advice and support, helping them access support they are entitled to which can improve their health and wellbeing.
HWF in Luton is led by Luton Council’s Public Health Team, through the Family Hub Programme in partnership with Citizens Advice Luton and East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT), which provides NHS mental health services in the borough.
In addition families and parents who need financial support are connected with HWF through ELFT’s perinatal mental health service for parents of babies up to two-years-old and its Luton child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS).
HWF Luton aims to create a seamless referral pathway for families to access welfare benefits and money advice in the same building as routine health and other appointments.
The project also combines HWF with an Advice First Aid approach, being delivered by Citizens Advice Luton to give staff the tools to find basic information on the National Citizens Advice website and respond confidently to common queries. This helps staff identify families who may benefit from financial wellbeing support and to connect them with advisers.
HWF Luton was launched in March 2025 and during its first nine months has supported 159 parents and families, accessing a total of £1.18m in additional benefits and grants, helping families gain an average of £7,421.
Georgia Betts, interim operational lead for ELFT’s Bedfordshire and Luton perinatal mental health service, said:
“The economic deprivation in Luton plays a huge part in poor mental health amongst our service users, particularly as they are trying to factor in the cost of a new baby and often cannot source their own baby equipment, clothing or food.”
“Being able to refer our service users into the project offers hope to them in often desperate times, and we hope to see financial concerns becoming less of a factor, a reduction in the number of food and baby bank referrals we need to do on their behalf, improved mental health outcomes and reduced avoidable referrals to the team.”
Councillor Rumi Chowdhury, Luton Council Portfolio Holder for Public Health, said:
“The Healthier Wealthier Families Project has added a key feature to the Luton Family Hubs Programme. The ability to support families on-site and from a trusted local provider is a pivotal development in strengthening the way we help families.
“The dedicated staff take the time to support all families with a wide range of complex needs, enhancing our services and addressing some of the real issues facing families in Luton.”
Stephanie Simeon CEO of Citizens Advice Luton said:
“Thanks to funding from Luton Borough Council, we’re able to reach families who might never have come to Citizens Advice.”
“Whether through Family Hubs, our growing partnership with ELFT, our town centre office, or via referrals from our Advice First Aid partners, we’re providing in-depth casework and crisis support to help families navigate incredibly difficult situations and secure the financial help they need.”
HWF has been launched in Luton following a successful pilot in Newham, east London, involving ELFT, Newham Council and other partners. The Newham programme has helped families access an estimated £1m in benefits and grants they didn’t know they were entitled to.