Alongside infrastructure building, we support and deliver applied research and evaluation on priority issues across the borough.
Preventing serious youth violence
Serious youth violence affects health, wellbeing, life chances and trust in public services, particularly for young people facing structural disadvantage.
We worked with NIHR PHIRST and Lambeth’s Serious Violence Reduction Unit to support an evaluation of the Lambeth Made Safer Strategy - the borough’s 10 year public health and anti-racist serious youth violence strategy. The evaluation explored how the strategy was being implemented and will shape the next phase of delivery.
See the serious youth violence in Lambeth case study on the LGA website.
Affordable nutrition and health
We have supported evaluation of Food Five Ways, an award-winning fruit and vegetables on prescription initiative.
This work brings together service data and community insight to understand food access and affordability, and how local food initiatives can support healthier outcomes and reduce inequalities.
Climate, place and health
We worked with local residents and partners through the Cooling Fiveways project to better understand how rising temperatures and extreme heat affect people’s health and everyday lives in Lambeth.
The project explored how heat is experienced across the local area and identified practical ways to make neighbourhoods cooler, safer and more comfortable during hot weather.
The findings are helping to shape local action on climate adaptation, supporting measures that reduce heat-related health risks, strengthen community resilience and create healthier places for people to live.
Housing data and homelessness prevention
We are exploring the factors that drive homelessness in the private rented and social housing sectors.
Supported by the Royal Foundation's Homewards programme, Bloomberg Associates and Imogen Blood & Associates, this work aims to strengthen evidence-informed approaches to homelessness prevention and earlier intervention.
Health promotion in community settings
The BELONG (BEauty and health community LOuNGes) initiative works with local hairdressers, GP practices and community champions to help women in deprived London neighbourhoods access NHS health checks for heart health.
The aim of this project is to see whether conversations in salons can encourage women and their families to take up checks for conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. We are working together with a King’s College London-based research team and our public health colleagues on this.
Food pestering and children’s diets
This project examines how supermarket displays and advertising influence children’s requests for unhealthy foods, and how this shapes family purchasing decisions.
The NIHR funded study on child pestering for unhealhty food and drinks, explores the impact of new UK regulations on food promotion and is a collaboration with the University of Liverpool and South Tees HDRC.
Read more about the study in the article, Children ‘pestering’ their parents for junk food while shopping.
Cross-London approaches to housing quality and temporary accommodation
We are working with the London Housing Directors’ Group and London councils to support councils across London as they implement Awaab’s Law, which requires landlords to investigate and address serious housing health hazards. Read the final report for the pilot phase.
We are also working with Islington HDRC, public health partners and academic partners to develop evidence-based guidance on reducing health inequalities for children and young people living in temporary accommodation, informing London-wide guidance in response to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.
Faith communities and mental health
We worked with FaithAction and London South Bank University to explore faith-based mental health interventions for Black majority communities.
The project aimed to strengthen the evidence base and inform policy on how faith communities can support mental wellbeing, while identifying opportunities to develop wider multi-faith approaches.
Read the evidence and policy report.
LGBTQ+ inclusive home-based care for older adults
We worked with LGBT HERO to support research into exploring how home-based care can better meet the needs of LGBTQ+ older adults in Lambeth.
The findings are helping to improve services through better staff training, more inclusive policies and stronger support for LGBTQ+ residents who need care at home.
Financial resilience and wellbeing
We coordinated an evaluation, undertaken by London South Bank University, of 2 financial advice services operating in Lambeth, delivered and funded by Impact on Urban Health and developed in partnership with the Centre for Responsible Credit.
The evaluation assessed the effectiveness of these services in supporting residents' wellbeing and broader outcomes, providing evidence to inform future service improvement and commissioning decisions.
Research publications
- Baseline assessments of research capacity, capability and culture in UK local authorities: reflections from evaluators embedded in Health Determinants Research Collaborations
- Predictors of childhood vaccination uptake and timeliness in a diverse urban population
- Association of the NHS Health Check with all-cause mortality: a longitudinal cohort study in primary care