London is often seen as a young city, but more than 15 per cent of London’s population - nearly 1.17 million people - are aged 60 or over.
Older people
Almost a quarter of a million people in London are aged over 80. The Mayor has delivered significant initiatives to ensure that London continues to strive to be one of the most age friendly cities in the world.
The Assessment of the GLA’s impact on older people’s equality provides more information about London’s older people, the inequalities they face and what the Mayor and the GLA is doing to advance equality of opportunity for older Londoners:
Assessment of the GLA’s Impact on Older People’s Equality PDF
Assessment of the GLA’s Impact on Older People’s Equality RTF
The Mayor’s equality framework for the capital, Equal Life Chances for All, includes a commitment to working to improve the city for all Londoners, including the older Londoners who make such a valuable contribution to our city.
One of the key aspirations of the GLA is to actively involve London’s older people in strategic development and decision-making to make sure that their needs and aspirations are reflected in the Mayor’s work.
London Older People's Strategies Group
Central to the Mayor’s engagement with older people is the London Older People's Strategies Group (LOPSG), the advisory group on issues affecting older people which ensures the voice of older London is heard in City Hall.
London Older People's Assembly
Each year, LOPSG organises a London Older People's Assembly at City Hall. The event is free to attend and all are welcome. The 2011 event, the nineth, took place on 18 July. More information on the London Older People's Assembly.
Know Your Rights
Know Your Rights is an annual campaign to promote the importance of advice and advocacy services that help older people access their rights and increase take up of benefits.
Connecting Older People
This Team London digital technology programme is training young volunteers (aged 16-18) to share their IT skills one-to-one with people over 60. The participants learn how to use email and Skype, understand social networks and how to access local services online. Internet use among older people is proven to reduce social isolation and whilst older people are the fastest growing group of internet consumers, many lack confidence and skills.
Freedom Pass extension
The Freedom Pass scheme, which gives older Londoners free travel on almost all of London’s public transport, was extended to include morning peak times. For more information please visit: www.freedompass.org.
The Mayor’s Older People Advisory Forum
Deputy Mayor Richard Barnes chairs the Mayor’s Older People Advisory Forum, where the members (older people's organisations, statutory bodies and government agencies) meet twice yearly to discuss issues of concern for older Londoners.
The Forum's Terms of Reference include the aims of the group, stating that the Advisory Forum will
- work in partnership with invited organisations to promote older people’s interests across London
- advise the Mayor on the implications of developments in policy that affect older people and services in London
- offer advice on concerns and issues for older people in London
- act as a regional forum to consider and discuss regional priorities for older people
- have regard to the work of other groups across London and will seek to add value to the work they do but also aim to make its own distinctive contribution to older people in London.
The Forum represents the Mayor and London’s older people on the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing.
