Mayor announces new £4.7m funding to further help low-income families secure financial support they are entitled to

• The Mayor’s campaigns and advice services have already helped more than 170,000 Londoners to claim more than £108m in financial support

• New £4.7m funding will extend the work of the Mayor’s Family Financial Resilience Partnership to help families on low incomes claim financial support

• Free independent advice will now be delivered to families across 19 boroughs

• A further nearly £750,000 will extend the Mayor’s work to help more Londoners get financial support they are entitled to, including Pension Credit, disability benefits and Universal Credit

 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced nearly £5m in new funding to further help low-income families cope with the cost-of-living.

 

The Mayor is extending the work of his Family Financial Resilience Partnership to 19 boroughs across the capital over the next two years, meaning thousands more families will receive free, independent advice to help them claim financial support that they are entitled to.

 

It is estimated that more than £4bn in benefits are going unclaimed each year across the capital, meaning that Londoners are missing out on vital help that could make a significant difference to their lives.

 

That’s why the Mayor has supported a range of campaigns and advice services to help Londoners, over the last four years helping more than 170,000 households claim more than £108m in financial support that they are entitled to.

 

That includes the Family Financial Resilience Partnership which was established earlier this year to provide advice to families through Best Start Family Hubs and Children’s Centres on a wide range of issues, including benefits, housing, childcare, immigration, disability, and employment.

 

Working in collaboration with 12 local authorities, London Citizens Advice and the London Legal Support Trust, the programme has helped more than 6,000 families in its first six months to secure more than £5.4m financial support. The Mayor is now extending this work to reach 19 boroughs over the next two years, potentially helping around 29,000 further families to access £18m.

 

The Mayor has also announced nearly £750,000 further funding to increase other work to help Londoners get the financial support they are entitled to, as well as make improvements to his Cost of Living Hub which helps Londoners get support and advice. This will include continuing the Mayor’s work with boroughs and data and analytics organisation Policy in Practice to help Londoners access a range of support including Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance, disability benefits, and Universal Credit. This additional funding has potential to reach 32,500 households and help them secure £15m in much-needed additional income.

 

The Mayor is committed to doing all he can to support Londoners with the cost of living. His unprecedented funding of free school meals in London’s state primary schools is saving families hundreds of pounds a year while positively influencing the health and wellbeing of children and strengthening school communities; and has invested £6m in funding to provide food, activities and support to children and young people during school holidays. The Mayor has also protected free and discounted travel for children and young people, ensuring cost is not a barrier to accessing education or opportunities across the capital.

 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m committed to doing everything I can to support Londoners with the cost of living and am proud that we have already helped over 170,000 Londoners claim more than £108m in financial support that they are entitled to. This money is making a big difference to help their daily lives and that’s why I’m providing further funding to ensure even more families on low incomes can get support. By funding free school meals in London’s state primary schools, providing activities during school holidays and protecting free and discounted travel for children and young people, I’ll continue to work hard to help London’s families, as we build a better, fairer London for everyone.”

 

Deputy Mayor for Communities & Social Justice, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard recently visited Barking Learning Centre Community and Family Hub in Barking and Dagenham to see first-hand the impact that the Family Financial Resilience Partnership has had on local Londoners.

 

Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, said: “I was delighted to visit Barking Learning Centre Community and Family Hub to see first-hand the impact that the Mayor’s support is having. We know that so many Londoners are struggling to get by, yet are completely unaware or unable to access the financial support that is available to them. As winter approaches and concerns about covering bills increase, we’re delighted to be extending the work of the Family Financial Resilience Partnership to more boroughs so that even more families can access the support they’re entitled to. This work is an important part of realising the Mayor’s ambition to make London the greatest city in the world to grow up in.”

 

Nezahat Cihan, CEO, London Legal Support Trust, said: “"We are delighted to be expanding our work with the GLA to increase the reach of the critical, life-changing advice services for low-income families provided through the FFRP (Family Financial Resilience Partnership). This will enable families across the additional boroughs to access high-quality, specialist legal advice through our centres as part of a wider partnership that provides wrap-around services. We are very grateful for the support of the Mayor in enabling us to extend the reach of this important work."

 

Jonathan Mogford, London Citizens Advice Chair, said: “Over the last 12 months, local Citizens Advice in many parts of London have been a key partner with Family Hubs. Citizens Advice has deep and trusted links into London’s diverse communities, many of whom are impacted by hardship, the cost-of-living crisis, as well as housing and immigration challenges. So we are delighted to be working with the GLA for a further two years, expanding our services in Family Hub settings. This project, based in communities and delivered in partnership with local authorities, London Legal Support Trust and the GLA, has already made a real difference in the lives of families across London. Many more families will now benefit over these additional two years.”

 

Abigail Everett, Head of Client Services, Policy in Practice, said: “Our ongoing partnership with the Greater London Authority shows the tangible impact of using data to bridge the gap in unclaimed support. Delivering over £108 million directly into residents' pockets is a powerful reminder of what collaborative, proactive action can achieve. By pairing targeted outreach with long-term financial resilience, we are keeping households out of crisis and taking meaningful steps towards closing London's £4 billion unclaimed benefits gap." 

 

Cllr Dominic Twomey, Leader of the Barking & Dagenham council, said: “We know that many families in Barking and Dagenham are struggling. Trying to put food on the table and keep their homes warm, while dealing with other pressures in their lives, can be incredibly difficult. Through the GLA-funded Family Financial Resilience Partnership, we’re bringing our Family Hub teams and specialist advice organisations together so families can get free, independent financial advice alongside wider support in a familiar, trusted place. This partnership is already making a real difference, supporting 612 families in its first six months. We want our residents to be able to do more than just get by - to enjoy life and feel part of our community. Working together with the GLA and our local partners, we’ll continue to build on this support and seek sustainable funding so we can be there for families for as long as they need us.”

 

A service user of the Barking Learning Centre Community and Family Hub who received support following homelessness and domestic abuse said: “I am so grateful for all the help, advice, and support me and my children have been given. When I first reached out for support, I was going through an incredibly stressful and difficult time. I felt overwhelmed and worried about my situation and, most importantly, about the wellbeing and safety of my children. The advice and referrals I have received have been incredibly helpful. They have helped me understand what support is available, what steps I can take, and where to turn when I need assistance. Knowing that someone is listening to me, taking my concerns seriously, and helping me find the right support has made me feel less alone during a very challenging time.”

 

A service user of the Barking Learning Centre Community and Family Hub who received support for their son’s special educational needs said: “The advice and guidance we have received have been extremely helpful and reassuring. It has given us a much clearer understanding of our son’s educational needs, our rights as parents, and the support available to our family. Most importantly, we no longer feel that we have to navigate these challenges alone, which has made a meaningful difference to our family. The service has exceeded our expectations, and we would highly recommend Citizens Advice Barking and Dagenham to other families who need advice and support.”