The Health and Wellbeing Board of Croydon Council met on Wednesday 18 March 2026 to discuss a range of initiatives aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the borough's residents, with a particular focus on children, young people, and families. Key decisions included noting the progress of the Family Hubs model, endorsing strategies for infant feeding and parental mental health, and approving the Better Care Fund submission.

Supporting Children, Young People, and Families

The Board received updates on several key initiatives focused on supporting children and young people. A significant focus was placed on improving the Good Level of Development (GLD) among children by the end of their reception year. Croydon has a target of 78.3% of children achieving GLD by 2028, and current data shows 70.4% achieve this, with a particular focus on improving outcomes in wards like Old Coulsdon and Selhurst, which have the lowest GLD rates. The strategy aims to address barriers such as speech and language delays, SEND needs, and social-emotional development through a whole-system approach involving Family Hubs, early education providers, and targeted interventions.

The Family Hubs Model and Children's Centres were discussed, outlining the transition from a 0-5 age range to a 0-19 (up to 25 with SEND) model. This expansion, supported by £6.2 million in grant funding, aims to provide a comprehensive range of services through three main hubs, outreach hubs, and information hubs located in community venues like libraries. The consultation revealed strong support for this expanded model, with an emphasis on protecting early years provision and ensuring accessibility across the borough.

The Infant Feeding Strategy 2024-2029 and Parental Mental Health Strategy 2024-2029 were presented, having received Executive Mayoral approval. These strategies aim to improve breastfeeding rates, reduce health inequalities, and provide better mental health support for parents and families. Key themes include supporting parents, ensuring they are prepared with information and skilled support, fostering partnerships across services, and creating accessible local 'places' for support. The strategies acknowledge the diverse needs of Croydon's population and aim to address gaps in provision, particularly for fathers, underrepresented groups, and those with mild to moderate mental health needs.

The Croydon Health and Wellbeing Survey for School-Age Children and Young People (2024/25) provided a snapshot of the health and wellbeing of pupils. Positively, students reported an increased sense of wellbeing, with 85% reporting good general health. However, concerns were raised regarding bullying (28% of pupils reported being bullied), discrimination (30% of secondary school pupils), and sleep deprivation. The survey also highlighted that 13.8% of secondary school pupils felt their family struggled with finances due to the cost of living. Actions are being taken to address these findings, including targeted support for girls' self-esteem, anti-bullying initiatives, and improved sexual health education.

An update on the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) Update - Children and Young People Focus highlighted the vital role of these organisations in supporting young people's health and wellbeing. The Croydon Youth Consortium, with 52 partners, was praised for its collaborative approach and national recognition. Initiatives like the 'My Ends' programme aim to reduce youth violence, while the Youth Innovation Fund supports pilot projects. The development of youth hubs and a new partnership with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to provide non-clinical support for young people were also discussed.

Better Care Fund and Public Health

The Board ratified the Better Care Fund 2025-2026 Quarter 3 Submission, confirming that Croydon is on track to meet all its targets for residential admissions, discharge delays, and emergency admissions, with 71% of the total fund spent by this quarter.

The Director of Public Health Annual Report 2025/26, titled 'Health is everyone's business', was presented. The report advocates for a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach, emphasising that health is shaped by decisions made across all sectors, not just healthcare. It highlights seven case studies demonstrating HiAP in action, including work on food and healthy weight, family hubs, ethnicity and mental health, rough sleeping, domestic abuse, illicit vapes, and reablement services. The report makes four key recommendations: establishing a formal HiAP framework for the Council, creating operational enablers for HiAP, strengthening the use of Council levers (procurement, licensing, planning) to improve health, and embedding HiAP principles within the One Croydon Alliance as an 'anchor system' for population health.

The Health and Wellbeing Annual Report 2025 summarised the Board's activities from January to December 2025, detailing its statutory functions, including the Better Care Fund, Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, and the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. The report highlighted the mobilisation of the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy through priority subgroups and outlined key activities and future actions aimed at reducing health inequalities and improving access to services.

Neighbourhood Health and Care

An update on Neighbourhood Health and Care was provided, focusing on planning for 2026/27 and Croydon's participation in the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme. Croydon Health Services NHS Trust has been nominated as the Host Organisation for Neighbourhood Health and Care, accountable to the South West London Integrated Care Board (ICB) for delivering NHS priorities. This nomination was supported by all One Croydon Alliance partners. The ICB is providing £250,000 in non-recurrent funding for 2026/27 to support delivery. The Board noted the progress and endorsed the nomination of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust as the Host Organisation.

Forward Plan

The Health and Wellbeing Board Forward Plan was reviewed, with the next meeting in July 2026 scheduled to focus on 'ageing and dying well', including an older people's needs assessment and updates on the Better Care Fund and the anti-racism work programme.

The meeting concluded with Councillor Yvette Hopley, Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, thanking officers, partners, and members for their contributions, noting the significant progress made by the Board since 2022.