The Southwark Health and Wellbeing Board met on 11 December 2025 to discuss a range of topics, including updates on the Healthy Work and Lives strategy, the Financial Shield project, the SC1 London Life Sciences Innovation District, and the Health Protection Annual Report. The board was also scheduled to receive verbal updates on neighbourhood planning and the Health of the Borough event.

Health Protection Annual Report 2024/25

The Health Protection Annual Report 2024/25 was to be presented to the board. The report gives an overview of health protection activity relating to:

• Communicable disease control
• Vaccination programmes
• Sexual health
• Screening programmes
• Environmental hazards
• Emergency preparedness and response in Southwark.

The report also highlights that tackling inequalities in health protection risks and outcomes is a key priority.

The report notes that low vaccination rates increased the risk of measles and whooping cough, and that climate change and global travel have brought new health risks. It also notes the importance of working with local communities to ensure activities are tailored towards those most at risk.

The report states that Southwark strives to tackle inequalities of access and outcome at every opportunity, and that many areas of work during 2024/25 specifically targeted inequalities, such as the Chagas point of care service aimed at Latin American communities¹, and a targeted approach to promotion and delivery of vaccinations.

The report also highlights the impact of climate change, stating that it is likely to amplify many health protection threats faced locally and globally, making it essential to prepare for and respond to threats and risks as they arise.

Financial Shield Project Update

The Health and Wellbeing Board were scheduled to discuss the outcomes and impacts of the Financial Shield pilot. The Financial Shield Project, launched by Impact on Urban Health and Centre for Responsible Credit in 2020, aimed to tackle the link between financial difficulties and poor health.

The project embedded dedicated advice workers, called 'Financial Support Link Workers' (FSLWs), within primary care. GPs and social prescribers could refer patients directly, and self-referral was possible through an accessible digital platform.

According to the report pack, over 1,100 residents received support from the service, with women aged 45–64, single parents, and people from Black, African, or Caribbean backgrounds most likely to access support. Key achievements and impacts of the project included:

• Financial gains of £1.67 million for the individuals involved.
• Reduced stress through a local breathing space scheme.
• Improved health, with over half of residents reporting improved mental or physical health.
• Reduced pressure on the NHS, with a third of residents making fewer GP visits.
• High levels of resident satisfaction.

The report pack also included a recommendation that national government ensure that all future welfare changes are subjected to a rigorous impact assessment with respect to their impacts for health and the delivery of health services.

Healthy Work and Lives Progress Update

The Health and Wellbeing Board were scheduled to receive an update on the 'Healthy work and lives' theme of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy action plan 2025-27. The Board's priority aim for 'Healthy work and lives' is to increase access to good quality jobs, providing support to those facing systemic inequalities and barriers to employment.

The report pack included progress updates on a number of actions, including:

• Embedding employment support within primary care, secondary care and community health services through the Connect to Work programme.
• Piloting a creative and cultural skills programme to support residents from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a career in the creative and cultural sector.
• Building key performance indicators relating to wellbeing and fair employment into the new home care and reablement service specifications, aligning with Southwark's Ethical Care Charter².
• Using the new Southwark Council Social Value Framework³ to ensure all Council divisions can evaluate, monitor and measure commitments to staff health and wellbeing within the procurement of commissioned services and contract management.
• Delivering and evaluating programmes to support the wellbeing of primary and social care staff.
• Evaluating the implementation and impact of Southwark's Healthy Advertising Policy.
• Using a Health in All Policies⁴ and evidence based approach to develop a targeted Leisure Service, Parks and Culture offer.
• Expanding the Rose Voucher healthy food scheme to different populations and delivery locations based on local need.
• Expanding the offer of affordable leisure activities in community settings and promote a wider range of physical activities.
• Designing and delivering zone-by-zone or borough wide programmes and initiatives that address the financial, social and cultural barriers to active travel through the Streets for People strategy.

SC1 London Life Sciences Innovation District - Update

The Health and Wellbeing Board were scheduled to receive an update on the SC1 London Life Sciences Innovation District⁵. SC1 is a partnership that brings together King's College London, Guy's and St Thomas', South London and Maudsley and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts, Guys & St Thomas's Foundation and Southwark and Lambeth Councils to create a life sciences ecosystem dedicated to innovation, creative partnerships and improving life for local and global communities.

The report pack noted that in the medium term, SC1 is aiming to deliver:

• 20,000 new high-quality jobs in the life sciences sector by 2030.
• Three innovation hubs.
• Real estate with positive impact, including plans for major new life sciences developments at Royal Street in Lambeth and Snowsfields Quarter in Southwark.
• A life sciences talent and skills pipeline for local residents, including the creation of work experience, paid internships and apprenticeships.

The Snowsfield Quarter real estate project in Southwark is a collaborative development being led by Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation, Oxford Properties and Reef Group. The £350 million development will create a 32,500 square meter mixed-use life science space with a replacement pub, café and new community floorspace. It will create 1,605 jobs, including 715 construction roles. The planning application for Snowsfield Quarter was approved by Southwark Council in October 2025.