Insights from the cost of living case studies

Introduction

Following the sharp rise in energy prices in 2022, the Building a Healthier Wales (BaHW) group hosted an All-Wales Cost of Living Summit in March 2023, bringing the impacts of the crisis on people and communities to the forefront of national discussion. Following the Summit, BaHW published a set of case studies highlighting how organisations and partnerships were supporting people through the cost of living crisis.

The case studies showed that projects addressing cost of living pressures can make a real and meaningful difference for people. They reflected contributions from a range of partners and covered areas such as food, energy, housing, income, debt, mental health, and health and care. The examples span local, regional and national activity, across both urban and rural settings, and include work led by local authorities, the NHS, private businesses, and voluntary and community organisations. The case studies highlighted what had really helped communities and the experiences captured offered practical learning for organisations working to support those living in the cost of living.

In 2025, an agile evaluation was conducted to establish how the report has been used and to understand what partners thought would be helpful to ensure that the case studies could reach and appeal to a wide audience. We were told that an updated set of case studies would be valuable for colleagues looking for real-world learning and up-to-date examples of what works.

This report showcases the great work happening across the projects, capturing updates, shared learning, and the new opportunities being created. We heard powerful examples of how projects are influencing policy and decision making. Our updated case studies bring these insights together to support ongoing improvement and future innovation.