The Mayor of London has launched a new £2.2 million programme aimed at helping low-income families across the capital access financial support they are entitled to but not currently receiving. Delivered through the Family Financial Resilience Partnership, the initiative brings together 12 London boroughs, London Citizens Advice and the London Legal Support Trust to provide free, independent advice on issues such as benefits, housing, childcare, employment, disability and immigration through local Best Start Family Hubs and Children’s Centres.
The programme is expected to support more than 17,500 families in its first year, helping them claim up to £8 million in financial assistance that would otherwise go unclaimed. Funding from City Hall will strengthen local services by increasing staff capacity and improving access to high-quality advice in trusted, community-based settings where families already seek support.
The launch comes as more than one in three children in London are living in poverty after housing costs, highlighting the growing pressure on household finances. While the Mayor’s income maximisation campaigns have already helped over 130,000 Londoners secure more than £94 million in entitled support over the past three years, billions of pounds in benefits remain unclaimed across the capital.
The new scheme builds on wider cost-of-living measures introduced by the Mayor, including free school meals for primary school children, holiday support programmes and protected free or discounted travel for children and young people. Together, these efforts aim to reduce inequality, strengthen financial resilience and ensure that families across London can access the support they need to improve their quality of life.
