£5 million fund to close health inequalities in Westminster

A £5 million programme to reduce Westminster’s health inequality gap has been launched by the council.

Funding by a Public Health grant is being given to 42 local community organisations to run free community-led activities designed especially for diverse groups to enable them to live a healthier lifestyle. Activities include fitness classes for teenage girls, social sessions for isolated residents and health education sessions.

Westminster City Council’s pioneering Healthy Communities Fund is being used to get residents living healthier lives to reduce the borough’s health inequality gap.

Despite 85% of residents reporting their health as good or very good, a baby born in the North of Westminster has an average life expectancy of 76 years. Whilst a mere 3 miles away, a child born in Knightsbridge and Belgravia has a life expectancy of 94 - a difference of 18 years and the largest health inequality gap in the country.

The funding will allow organisations to take a holistic approach to health, allowing residents to get involved in something they love, as well as offer an opportunity to discuss preventative healthcare issues, such as screenings and vaccinations and support with their mental wellbeing.

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The council are responding to residents’ feedback that they want culturally competent services in the heart of the community, delivered by people who they know and can relate to. Volunteers and local organisations are already embedded into their community so are best placed to know the challenges faced by the residents and service users they serve.

The council aims to ultimately strengthen the capacity, knowledge, skills and reach of local VCS organisations. They want to build their expertise in promoting healthy behaviours in a way that is relatable to the local community.

Allocated funds have been made available for projects right across Westminster with different groups encouraging healthier and more sociable lifestyles for residents of all ages and backgrounds.

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Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and the Voluntary Sector, Cllr Nafsika Butler-Thalassis said: 

The Healthy Communities Fund shows how serious we are at reducing health inequalities in Westminster.

Many of the inspirational organisations we are supporting are the lifeblood of their local communities and know the individual struggles faced by their users. This support will no doubt set residents up for healthier, better lives.

Awrasalla Sheikh from the Kulan Somali Organisation said: 

It’s an excellent initiative and puts us at ease that we will make an impact and positively change lives for residents. Thanks to the healthy community fund we are now able to deliver sessions twice a week which we haven’t been able to do before.

We are all about creating long term behaviour changes within the local communities and amongst families so having the fund for a guaranteed three years is brilliant.

We plan to use the money to offer a wraparound service which includes exercise sessions with a qualified instructor, mentoring sessions and providing healthy food for families. It’s heart-warming to see changes already and we’re now confident we’ll be able to continue to deliver a holistic approach that will positively change families. 

More information can be found here: Healthy Communities Fund | Westminster City Council.