Our work

Our strategy

We collaborate with partners and share what we learn to build health equity for people in Lambeth and Southwark and beyond.

Why we're here

Poor health, poverty and racism are deeply connected. Poverty causes bad health and bad health worsens poverty. Racism means minoritised communities are more likely to be living in poverty and have poor health as a result. We see these connections most starkly in urban areas where poverty and affluence sit side by side. People living just streets apart can be worlds apart in their health. This is why we focus on urban health. We believe cities are the best places to find ways to break these links.

What we do

To increase our understanding and offer solutions with long-term potential, we focus on a specific set of urban health issues as routes in to the challenge. These are: children’s health and food, children’s mental health, health effects of air pollution, and financial foundations for adult health.

How we do it

Our core principles are integral to the work we do and guide how we work:

London street, with people walking past a market stall displaying fresh produce

The impact we have

Our goal is to build health equity so that everyone living in urban areas has a fair and just opportunity to thrive and live in good health.

What we’re hoping to achieve

The scale of the problem is big, but so are our goals. So what does good look like?

The health inequality gap in Lambeth and Southwark is narrowing.

  • People in Lambeth and Southwark benefit from better access to services that support healthy income generation and financial security.
  • Children and families from the most marginalised groups in Lambeth and Southwark have better access to safe, nurturing services.
  • There has been a reduction in the sources of air pollution disproportionately experienced by the least well off and most marginalised people.
  • All children and families in Lambeth and Southwark are regularly able to access nutritious, affordable and culturally appropriate food.

National Government has taken action to ensure everyone living in urban areas has a fair and just opportunity to thrive and live in good health.

The establishment of a cross-Government strategy for urban health and national policy to:

  • Make rent, energy and debt more affordable
  • Reduce the number of children living in child poverty.
  • Tackle the core sources of air pollution at source.
  • Stem the flood of junk food and make healthy and nutritious food the easiest option.

Our programmes

To increase our understanding and offer solutions with long-term potential, we focus on a specific set of urban health issues as routes into the challenge. We do this through programmes that address issues that disproportionately impact people living in cities.

Programmes

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Children’s health and food

We want to break the link between low income and poor nutrition, by improving the quality of food options in lower-income neighbourhoods.

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Programmes

Family walking a dog

Children’s mental health

Our vision is a world where every child has access to the things they need to be healthy, feel safe, and reach their full potential.

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Programmes

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Health effects of air pollution

Our vision is a healthier world where everyone breathes clean air.

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Programmes

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

Financial foundations for adult health

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

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