We want to improve life chances across Letchworth Garden City by tackling poverty, strengthening financial resilience and increasing access to skills and opportunities. Working with a network of local partners, we aim to reduce food and income poverty, help residents maximise their income and manage their costs, and support people to build the skills and confidence they need to thrive.
For the latest updates on our projects and progress towards this aim, visit our Our Impact page, updated quarterly to reflect our ongoing work and achievements.
2025 Highlights
- Improving financial wellbeing: Through the Letchworth Financial Health Project, delivered in partnership with Citizens Advice North Herts, 202 people received specialist debt and benefits advice, generating £633,167 in financial outcomes.
- Investing in local support: Provided £171,500 in funding to tackle poverty and improve financial resilience, including £150,000 for the Letchworth Financial Health Project and £21,500 towards Letchworth Foodbank's operational costs.
- Listening to local communities: Produced the Letchworth Community Research Report with Create Community, drawing on interviews with residents and local support organisations to inform future action.
- Reaching residents where they are: Attended 42 community events to engage with residents, raise awareness of support and connect people with local services.
- Making family activities more accessible: Expanded the Hello Holidays campaign and Play! Discover! Share! programme, helping families find free and low-cost activities during school holidays.
- Exploring skills and employment: Began working with partners to identify opportunities to improve access to skills development, employability and pathways into work, particularly for people under 25.
Progress Against Strategy 2028
- Reducing poverty: Continued funding and collaborating with organisations tackling food and income poverty, including Letchworth Foodbank and Citizens Advice North Herts.
- Improving financial capability: Supported residents to maximise their income, minimise costs and access specialist advice through the Letchworth Financial Health Project.
- Evidence-led action: Developed a new policy to guide decision-making and used community research and local data to identify needs and shape future priorities.
- Working in partnership: Strengthened collaboration between local organisations to improve access to support, skills development and opportunities for children, young people and families.
Priorities for 2026
- Continue the Letchworth Financial Health Project with Citizens Advice North Herts, helping residents improve their financial stability and wellbeing, with an estimated £430,000 in financial outcomes.
- Expand community engagement with local partners to help residents access support before reaching crisis point.
- Grow the Hello Holidays campaign, working across our Culture & Leisure and Nature & Wellbeing teams to deliver free creative activities and nature-based opportunities for families over four weeks of the summer holidays.
- Explore new pathways and partnerships to help residents develop employability and life skills.
- Continue working collaboratively to address the underlying causes of poverty and improve opportunities across the town.
Our ambition is to build a more inclusive and prosperous Letchworth, where everyone can access the support, resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
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