Barking and Dagenham Faith Leaders Network supports over 500 local residents to improve their health outcomes

As a group of faith communities from across the borough, the members of the Barking and Dagenham Faith Leaders Network are united by a desire to meet local needs through practical acts of service. Barking and Dagenham is one of London’s most deprived boroughs, so those needs are diverse and expansive. However, the borough benefits from a thriving  faith sector -with 75% of residents having some level of faith and hundreds of places of worship in the area, there are many opportunities for faith groups to make a difference.

Health inequalities are one of the largest issues within the borough. Life expectancy for residents is significantly worse than the national average, with cancer and cardiovascular disease rates higher than most other boroughs in London – despite it also having one of the youngest populations in London.

The public health team at Barking and Dagenham Council realise the value in partnering with faith groups to alleviate some of these pressing health issues and has so far provided two years of funding for local faith groups to run projects for their communities tackling some of these issues. Over the course of this year’s funding, over 500 residents of Barking and Dagenham took part in interventions to help promote healthier lifestyles, highlight health issues or concerns, and give opportunity to create connections with others. Projects included: sessions checking blood pressure and blood sugar levels to identify issues that may lead to cardiovascular disease or diabetes; education workshops discussing vaccinations and addressing myths and misconceptions; and work focusing on women’s health issues, helping members of their community advocate for their care more effectively.

The programme is part of FaithAction’s Faith Health Partnership (FHAP) programme, an innovative project that improves the health and wellbeing of faith communities. FHAP has the power to improve physical and mental health of local residents, providing co-designed and culturally appropriate interventions, and is commonly funded by local authorities with the aim of reducing health inequalities, improving health literacy, and empowering grassroots faith-based organisations to improve the health and wellbeing of their community. Since first launching in Tower Hamlets in 2021, FaithAction further worked with faith groups in Birmingham and now Barking and Dagenham to develop and deliver and provide support to projects that have made a significant impact on health outcomes.

As the NHS implements its 10 Year Health Plan, and more services are moved into community settings, faith groups are exceptionally well-placed to reach communities and make a real difference to health outcomes. Utilising the FHAP programme can be a fantastic way for your area to create new partnerships between public health and faith communities leading to more resilient communities with better health outcomes.

Get in touch with the team to find out how FHAP can benefit your local area – email info@faithaction.net

Take a look at an evaluation of the FHAP programme in Tower Hamlets.