“"This strategy is close to my heart, I’m proud of the work we’ve done in this city with our partners over the last few years to support our residents when they needed us most with the cost of living. It’s about being here for our residents when they need us, and we’ve already accomplished a great deal since the strategy was first put in place. But the financial challenges have not gone away, and global events have meant everyone is still feeling the effects of rising costs in one way or another. This refreshed strategy places the voices and experiences of our residents at the heart of our priorities and ambitions. Our city should be a place where everyone has the chance to live a safe, secure, and happy life - that’s why this strategy is not just for today, it’s for years ahead and generations to come. We leave nobody behind in this city. Every resident, regardless of income, background or their circumstances should be able to access opportunities and the support they need to strengthen their financial wellbeing. They should be able to do this free from stigma, exclusion, or inequality."
Wolverhampton Council Approves Refreshed Financial Wellbeing Strategy
New strategy aims to build on previous success, supporting residents with cost of living challenges and financial resilience.
By Aisha Mahmood
••3 min read
AI
Generic image of a red-brick building facade in The Midlands.
The City of Wolverhampton Council has approved its refreshed Financial Wellbeing Strategy 2026 to 2029, building on previous support for residents facing cost of living pressures.
The refreshed Financial Wellbeing Strategy 2026 to 2029 has been approved by the council's cabinet. This strategy aims to continue building on existing projects that have already supported 135,000 residents with the cost of living.
Since the first strategy was introduced in 2022, over £18.5 million has been distributed directly to residents. The current strategy has implemented various measures, including community shops, community chefs, the 'Pocket to Plate' food strategy, the Good Night Project, and City Homemakers, all designed to help people manage their budgets effectively.
The Good Night Project, launched in 2023, has provided more than 1800 beds for individuals. In the last six months alone, nearly 2000 residents received direct crisis payments to ensure their safety, wellbeing, and warmth. Additionally, over 17,000 residents utilised community shops during the same period, accessing affordable food with dignity.
The refreshed strategy focuses on enhancing knowledge and skills to empower Wolverhampton residents to manage their finances confidently and make informed choices. The council's Boost initiative has already assisted over 1000 residents in improving their financial wellbeing, maximising income, and reducing debt to build resilience.
This updated strategy incorporates learning, feedback, and evidence gathered over the past three years, highlighting the strength of city-wide partnerships. Cabinet was informed that the achievements to date would not have been possible without the valuable contributions of these partners.
The full report is available in the downloads section. Residents struggling financially can find details of available support on the council's cost-of-living webpages.
Based on information from the official source: City of Wolverhampton Council (15/10/2026)
