Westminster Labour is taking decisive action to strengthen communities that were left behind after years of Conservative mismanagement.
Labour has announced a £180,000 investment to expand and improve Community Champions programmes across the City—demonstrating our commitment to tackling inequality and putting residents first.
The investment will mean:
- The existing Community Champions programmes in Queen’s Park, Harrow Road, and Westbourne will be expanded for two years, enabling them to reach 25% more people and support them with their health and well-being.
- Two new community champions programmes on the Brunel Estate in Westbourne and Lillington & Longmore in Pimlico North will bring vital support to neighbourhoods that urgently need it.
This expansion—funded through the North Paddington Programme and Public Health budgets—shows what Labour can achieve when we make political choices to prioritise local people.
Community champions train local people to support their friends, neighbours and people in their local area to improve their health and wellbeing with a focus on:
- improving access to health and wellbeing services through community outreach
- recruiting and training residents as Community and Maternity Champions to work with their communities, the NHS and the Council
- building social capital (confidence, mental well-being, reducing isolation, and promoting community cohesion) through activities and events
- gathering insight and community intelligence through residents’ feedback and responding to it
- increasing Early Intervention, Health Promotion & Behaviour Change, through local public health programmes that promote prevention, peer education, and self-management for people with long-term conditions.
There is clear evidence for the impact of Community Champions. 95% of residents reported feeling more connected to their community, 90% felt more satisfied with their health, and 82% had increased trust in local health and care services.
Councillor Cara Sanquest, Labour Cabinet Member for Communities, said:
“I’m proud that Labour-run Westminster is taking real action to tackle poverty, isolation and health inequalities across our city. This funding will allow us to provide more support to residents who need it most, and those who want to volunteer in their community to help their neighbours.”
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health & Voluntary Sector, Councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassis, added:
“Labour is committed to reducing health inequality and improving wellbeing across Westminster. Expanding Community Champions to Brunel and Lillington & Longmore shows exactly how we’re turning that commitment into action.”
