The Health and Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee met on Tuesday 21 July 2026 to discuss a range of important issues affecting the borough. Key decisions included the endorsement of the 'It Starts Here: Partnerships for Change' strategy, which outlines ten key priorities for Barking and Dagenham, and the approval of the Better Care Fund Plan for 2026/27, which allocates £37 million to integrated health and social care services. The Board also agreed to endorse the VCFSE Strategy – Equitable System Partnership, aiming to foster a more equitable relationship with the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector.

Resident's Story

Emdad Rahman, a long-term resident and community volunteer, shared his experiences and concerns with the Board. Mr Rahman, who runs the BookBike London initiative, highlighted the health inequalities he has witnessed and the impact of his own declining health, particularly his eyesight, on his ability to volunteer. He stressed the importance of prioritising personal health, even while dedicating oneself to community service. Mr Rahman also shared his appreciation for the local health services and his ongoing commitment to his work despite his health challenges. The Board thanked Mr Rahman for his inspirational contributions and acknowledged the importance of prioritising one's own health.

'It Starts Here: Partnerships for Change' - A New Vision for Barking and Dagenham

The Board endorsed the 'It Starts Here: Partnerships for Change' strategy, a new vision for Barking and Dagenham that replaces the previous Borough Manifesto. This strategy outlines ten key partnership priorities: School readiness and Child obesity; Poverty; Employment; Independent living; Decent homes; Preventing and managing long-term conditions; Domestic abuse; Community safety; Clean streets; and Culture and heritage. The strategy emphasises a focus on tangible outcomes, partnership working, and a neighbourhood-based approach to service delivery. Discussions also touched upon the accessibility of crisis and resilience funds, with assurances that digital access zones and community navigators are available to assist residents.

National Child Measurement Programme Dataset

The Public Health Analyst presented findings from the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) for 2024/25. The data indicated a decrease in the percentage of Reception children classified as above a healthy weight, with Barking and Dagenham's rate falling below the national average for the first time. While the percentage of Year 6 children classified as above a healthy weight also decreased, it remained higher than the national average. The report highlighted a persistent gender gap, with boys having a higher rate of obesity than girls, and noted that data sharing limitations due to GDPR were a factor in further analysis. The Board acknowledged the positive trends but also the need for continued efforts to address childhood obesity, particularly among boys, and the importance of data quality improvements.

Barking and Dagenham Better Care Fund Narrative Plan and Numerical Template 2026/27

The Better Care Fund Manager presented the plan for 2026/27, outlining a pooled budget of approximately £37 million aimed at integrating health and social care services. The plan focuses on prevention, enabling residents to remain independent at home, and improving outcomes from reablement services. Key priorities include enhancing community support, enabling access to services at the right time and place, and promoting healthier lifestyles. The Board approved the Better Care Fund Plan for 2026/27, which will support integrated care and preventative services across the borough.

VCFSE Strategy - Equitable System Partnership (NEL VCFSE Collaborative)

The Partnership Development Director for the NEL VCFSE Collaborative and the Chief Commissioning Officer for NHS NEL presented the VCFSE Strategy – Equitable System Partnership. This strategy, developed collaboratively with VCFSE organisations and statutory partners, is structured around seven pillars aimed at fostering a more equitable partnership between the VCFSE sector and the health system. These pillars include recognition of the sector's strengths in prevention, genuine power sharing, a new tiered commissioning model, investment in capacity and leadership, improved data integration, shared resources, and effective neighbourhood working. The Board resolved to endorse the VCFSE Strategy, acknowledging the need for further action to support the voluntary sector.