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As part of our ongoing place-based engagement, in July, Healthwatch Medway spoke to 53 residents living in Rainham to understand how their local environment affects their health and wellbeing.
Over 1 in 3 (36%) residents we spoke to raised concerns around the cost of living, mentioning the cost of parking, property, shopping and local activities.
“The only issue I have found here is parking, as it is really expensive. I used to use the Riverside Country Park parking, as it was free before, but now it is charged.”
“My grandchildren can't afford to buy a house. Their total household income is over £50k, and yet they can't afford to buy. They are paying more in rent but can't get a mortgage. They are earning more than we ever did, and yet they can't buy anywhere. This is crazy. We bought our house for £30k, and now these kids are paying £250k, and not being helped.”
“Our Grandchildren can't get a mortgage. They pay more in rent than if they were given a mortgage, but the banks are not allowing them to have a mortgage.”
“I feel sorry for younger people in Rainham, they've got nothing to do. There was a swimming pool Splashes which was cheap but now the new one is a high cost membership club so if a family wants to go it'll cost them about £70”
Residents shared that the increased cost of living is having an impact on both their own health and wellbeing and the wider community, including reducing opportunities for physical activity and contributing to anti-social behaviour.
“I used to come with my dogs in the morning for a walk, but because of the parking issue, I cannot take them to the park now.”
“The [parking] charge increase also means some of our volunteers have to pay to park just to come to work.”
“The kids don't have anything so they act out because they can't afford anything else.”
Across the work EK360 have done this year, 14% of residents we spoke to in Medway also told us that they sometimes, always or often struggle to pay for basic necessities, showing that the cost of living is having an impact on residents across Medway, not only in Rainham.
Research by Nuffield Health in 2023 found that almost 2 in 3 people (63%) believed the cost of living has a negative impact on people’s physical and mental health, and according to the Office for National Statistics (2026), around 6 in 10 adults (61%) feel very or somewhat worried about the rising cost of living.
The rising cost of living has also been associated with poor mental health, with some experiencing stress, anxiety and depression as a result of stretched finances. Increased stress can also lead to physical health issues such as high blood pressure, weakened immune systems and poorer cardiovascular health.
Research by The King’s Fund states that “while the NHS can treat the health harms of poverty, wider government and societal action is needed to address its root causes”. Locally, Medway Council’s work to become a Marmot Places recognises that health and wellbeing is shaped by the conditions in which people are born, grow, live work and age. One of the aims is to create a healthy standard of living for all residents. The Institute of Health Equity’s report on the Medway Marmot Place Partnership also highlights local businesses’ role in reducing health inequalities, including a recommendation to improve wages to meet the minimum income for healthy living.
Feedback from residents shows why this aim is so relevant for Rainham residents. Although Rainham is not among the most deprived areas in Medway, resident’s experiences show that rising costs can have an impact on members across the local community. The cost of living does not only have an impact on household budgets, but it affects how people use local spaces, stay active and participate in community activities.
Local work to reduce the negative impact of the rising cost of living could therefore improve the health and wellbeing of residents living in Rainham and in the wider community, while also contributing to the national and local priorities around prevention and helping people to remain active and independent in the community for as long as possible.
Bias and Limitations
Residents we spoke to were those who were available and willing to speak to us at the time and location of each engagement event. Therefore, the sample is not representative of the Rainham population. These findings should be interpreted as indicative trends rather than conclusive evidence.
