The Health and Wellbeing Board of Hackney Council was scheduled to meet on Thursday 25 June 2026. The agenda included discussions on plans for the Better Care Fund, a review of the progress of the Hackney Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy, and consideration of reports on increasing social connections, improving mental health, and supporting financial stability. The meeting was also expected to cover the terms of reference for the upcoming municipal year and the appointment of the Board's Chair and Co-Chair.

Better Care Fund Plan 2026-27

A key item on the agenda was the Better Care Fund (BCF) Plan for 2026-27. This national programme requires local councils and the NHS to pool budgets to fund integrated community services, aiming to shift care from hospitals to prevention in the community and enable people to live independently at home for longer. The report outlined that Hackney's plan has been agreed by NHS North East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) and meets the four national conditions: joint agreement, enabling independence, providing the right care in the right place, and maintaining NHS contribution to adult social care. The total pooled budget for 2026-27 is £53,240,875, comprising Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), NHS Minimum Contribution, and Local Authority Better Care Grant. The plan prioritises embedding services within a hyper-local neighbourhood model, addressing health inequalities, and managing rising demand through proactive population health management and an integrated Home First approach. Goals for reducing non-elective admissions and delayed discharges were also detailed, with a focus on utilising urgent response services and daily Home First checkpoints.

Recap: The 2022-26 Hackney Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy

The Board was scheduled to receive a recap of the 2022-26 Hackney Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy (JLHWS). This strategy, developed based on population health needs, stakeholder engagement, and a formal consultation, sets out priorities for improving the health and wellbeing of the local population and addressing health inequalities. The three key priorities identified were: improving mental health, increasing social connection, and supporting greater financial security. The report indicated that full reports on each of these priorities would be presented to the meeting.

Increasing Social Connections

An update was planned on the progress of implementing the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy's priority on increasing social connections. The report highlighted collaborative, system-wide action on five core priorities, securing non-recurrent funding for targeted work, and fostering stronger relational working among partners. The Social Connections Leads Group, co-chaired by Councillor Chris Kennedy and Joia De Sa, Consultant in Public Health, had been working to develop a vision and priorities for action. The report detailed various meetings and workshops held to discuss different aspects of social connection, including strengthening social infrastructure, increasing awareness of services, building a culture of connection, and deepening knowledge of what works for those at risk of isolation. The Board was asked to consider the future of the Social Connections Leads Group and who should be responsible for its coordination.

Progress Report: Implementation of HWB Strategy 2022-26 Priority on Improving Mental Health

The Board was set to receive a progress report on the mental health priority of the Hackney Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The report detailed population health and system needs regarding the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people, and adults in Hackney, with recommendations for future action. For children and young people, a needs assessment was published in 2025, leading to the development of a refreshed CYP City and Hackney Emotional Health and Wellbeing Action Plan and Strategy. For adults, the Adult Mental Health Needs Assessment also published in 2025, with a joint action plan to be developed. The report noted ongoing changes in the mental health system, including the national Neighbourhood Health Framework, community mental health transformation, and the renewal of funding for the Psychological Therapies Wellbeing Alliance. It also highlighted that Hackney has a higher prevalence of key risk factors for poor mental health compared to London and England averages, underscoring the need for a holistic approach.

Supporting Financial Stability

The Board was scheduled to review progress towards the key objectives set out in the 2022-26 Hackney Health and Wellbeing Strategy concerning financial stability. This priority aims to address the material needs of residents arising from the cost of living crisis and tackle longer-term drivers of poverty. The report detailed the work of the Here to Help (H2H) service, established to support residents facing financial hardship with homelessness risk, benefits advice, and debt relief. In 2025/26, key areas of delivery included the Household Support Fund, scaling up the H2H service, coordinating income maximisation offers, delivering food programmes in schools, expanding apprenticeships and adult learning, and targeting efforts to reduce the cost of essentials. The report also noted the upcoming transition to the Crisis and Resilience Fund and the launch of a £3.5m grants programme for voluntary and community organisations. Despite easing inflation, the report highlighted ongoing cost-of-living pressures, high housing costs, food insecurity, and the need for continued efforts to support residents.

Terms of Reference and Future Meetings

The Board was also scheduled to note the Terms of Reference for the Health and Wellbeing Board for the Municipal Year 2026/27. Additionally, dates for future meetings were to be confirmed.