Shoppers at Borough Market, viewed through the brick arch of a bridge. Photograph by Bruno Martins

Programmes

Financial foundations for adult health

We want to ensure that institutions, systems, and structures support Black, minoritised, and low-income households to live in financial security.

Our strategy Get in touch

Our vision is a world where everybody has the financial freedom needed for good mental and physical health.

Why we focus on the financial foundations for adult health

Our health and wealth are intertwined. We know that financial security and stability are important drivers of good health, and inequalities in health and wealth are stark in urban areas.

Where we work in Lambeth and Southwark, our research has shown that rates for long-term illnesses are higher for Black and minoritised communities, who are also more likely to be living on a lower income, in unsuitable housing, and in unhealthy jobs. In the communities we work with, outgoing costs frequently exceed income, causing constant stress and straining household resources.

Thousands of adults living in cities, and across the UK, do not have equitable access to the resources that enable good health. We believe that it is possible to build the financial foundations for adult health in a way that is more equal, more just, and more generative.

Key facts

43%

Our research has shown that people who are struggling financially report far lower levels of good health (43%) than those who describe themselves as financially comfortable (80%).

Inequity

People from Black-African, Black-Caribbean and other Black communities across the UK are more than twice as likely to be struggling financially and more than three times as likely to live in a household that is behind on bills or rent.

How we’ll achieve our vision

The circumstances of people’s finances and the structures that enable community wealth building all have a role to play in good health.

Our long-term programme, formerly known as the multiple long-term conditions programme, therefore aims to inform the redesign of systems and the way the economy works to reset this health inequity.

Partnering with others

By working with organisations to address the economic determinants of health we can ensure longer, healthier lives for all people living in urban areas.

We will work closely with local people, researchers, charities, and community organisations to invest in partnerships and initiatives that promote economic inclusion and support financial security.

Our work seeks to shift power to communities and change structurally unequal systems so that there is greater equity in access to building wealth and good health.

Become a partner or view our recent partnerships.

Recent partnerships

We partner with local, national and international organisations working to address the financial determinants of health. See some of our recent partnerships.