Together for a Fairer Future

In August 2025, the government asked our borough whether we have the funding we need.

In response, we set out Waltham Forest’s case for change, to call for resources and funding which reflects the reality of our needs and challenges.

We needed your support to make the best possible case for our borough, and more than 400 of you did this, by signing our call to action. By using our collective voice, we secured a meeting with the government where we could tell Ministers exactly what fairer funding means for us. Our MPs also fought hard to make our borough’s voice heard in Parliament.

We received some welcome funding from the government. However, our borough and our residents remain disadvantaged compared to our neighbours, who receive more money despite delivering the exact same services to a similar sized population. In some cases, we even get less money where our residents’ needs are far greater:

• We receive £300 less than other neighbouring boroughs, apart from Redbridge, in core spending per head
• The money we get for public health services is under half – that's £22 million less - than that which Hackney gets, but we have the same levels of need
• Taken together, Waltham Forest and Newham currently have the lowest number of Neighbourhood Police Officers in London
• Waltham Forest teachers can be paid up to £6,000 less than those in Hackney and Islington. This is impacts children in the borough, as it harms schools’ ability to recruit and keep teaching staff

These funding disparities are unfair and simply have to change.

As a council we have worked hard to manage our finances sustainably, making £140m in savings since 2011 while still being able to deliver so much that Waltham Forest people value: From one of the best records in the country for building social housing; To improvements in our Adults and Children's Services and our championing of safer, greener neighbourhoods.

However, the number of people who need our help continues to rise. This is happening while our funding is shrinking: It is 6.4% less in 2026/27 compared to 2010/11, when adjusted for inflation.

In recent years, we have seen more people than ever who need our help with homelessness, adult social care and children’s services, including support for children with special educational needs and disability (SEND). The number of families at risk of homelessness who we provide temporary accommodation has also increased significantly - by 80% in just 2 years prior to 2025.

Taken together, this means we currently spend 72p out of every £1 on support for vulnerable residents – and this figure is set to rise again over the coming years.

On top of this, the fact we are still unfairly underfunded in comparison with our neighbouring boroughs makes it even harder for us to pay for these services and the things our residents need.

Because of our campaign and your efforts, we were able to meet with the government to discuss Waltham Forest’s funding and make the strongest possible case for fairer funding for our borough.

But we’re not stopping our campaign: We’ll continue to call for a fairer future for Waltham Forest until we get the funding we deserve. That means we still need your support. Every signature helps us to make our case to Ministers.

Our pledge remains open so you can make your voice heard and tell us what fair funding, and a fairer future, for Waltham Forest means to you. By signing and sharing your views, we can present Waltham Forest’s case to Government together, as one voice and one community.