Ealing Council is directing funds towards Black-led health groups through its Ealing Roots and Wings programme, a grant initiative paired with peer research training. The programme, responding to the 2022 Ealing Race Equality Commission report, aims to amplify community voices and address health inequalities.
The Health and Wellbeing Board discussed the programme at its meeting on Thursday, 26 June 2025. The meeting agenda and reports pack are publicly available.
Each participating organisation receives £5,000, and a Black leader from each group undergoes peer research training. Gabi Woolf, Consultant in Public Health, noted the program's goal to integrate the learning and expertise of participants into Borough Based Partnership decision-making forums. The program's first phase commenced in April 2025, with ten organisations selected from 37 applicants.
Initial insights from participants highlighted the need to value the time and expertise of Black African and Caribbean communities. Participants also expressed concerns about the reliance on external consultants and the fragmentation of Black-led organisations due to a competitive funding environment.
Other topics discussed at the meeting included vaping among young people, updates on Ealing Hospital and the Community Diagnostic Centre, and the experiences of homeless people in the NHS. Anna Bryden, Director of Public Health presented findings from the annual public health report, focusing on the rising trend of vaping among children and young people. The board also received an update from Simon Crawford, Deputy Chief Executive, London Northwest Healthcare NHS Trust on Ealing Hospital and the Ealing Community Diagnostic Centre.
Healthwatch Ealing presented a report on the experiences of homeless people in the NHS, revealing that 80% of participants felt treated differently due to their lack of a fixed address.