ADD2529 Out of COVID-19 – Health Conversations with Young Londoners

1.1. The Greater London Authority, Public Health England and NHS London have been jointly working together to promote the COVID vaccination programme.

1.2. As part of the work to promote the COVID vaccination programme, a series of ‘Big Conversation’ events have taken place with diverse communities across London. The GLA received £5,000 from Public Health England and £5,000 from NHS London, approved through a Delegated Authority Record (DAR) decision in March 2021 to deliver this work. A Service Level Agreement was set-up with London Plus to disburse honorariums to compensate community organisations.

1.3. Public Health England data from July 2021 shows evidence that young Londoners aged 18-25 have lower levels of vaccination take-up than other cohorts and age groups.

1.4. Young leaders, including from the Mayor’s Peer Outreach Team, were brought together in July 2021 to discuss their ideas in engaging young people in the vaccination campaign. The young leaders shared their desire to hold conversations on vaccines and wider health and wellbeing in their own communities.

1.5. “Out of COVID-19: Health Conversations with Young Londoners” will allow community-led creative events across London, in which conversations about COVID vaccines can take place in safe and trusted environments.

1.6. Public Health England and NHS London will provide money for grants to community organisations, which will be disbursed by London Plus for an administration fee. There is expected to be 30 community events on the week between Monday 23 August and Monday 30 August 2021.

2.1. Objectives:

• to increase COVID-19 vaccination take-up in 18-25-year-old Londoners

• to connect health and care professionals with trusted community organisations

• to create environments where 18-25-year-old Londoners can discuss the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health and wellbeing, and the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on their lives.

2.2. Deliverables:

• support to host 30 creative community events across London

• engagement of at least 1,000 18-25-year-old Londoners in conversations at these community events.

2.3. Outcomes:

• evidence of increases in COVID-19 vaccination take-up in 18-25-year-old Londoners in the areas where events take-place

• insights and evidence gathered through events that can be used and shared to support increases in COVID-19 vaccination take-up amongst 18-25-year-old Londoners

• insights and evidence gathered on wider health and wellbeing concerns used to develop wider support for 18-25-year-old Londoners.

3.1. Under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, as a public authority, the GLA must have ‘due regard’ of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), that is the need to: 

• eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation

• advance equality of opportunity

• foster relations between people who have a protected characteristic and those who do not. 

3.2. “Out of COVID-19: Health Conversations with Young Londoners” has been designed specifically with the aim of ensuring that young Londoners who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 have opportunities to have conversations peer-to-peer and with health and care professionals.

3.3. The Community Engagement team will work closely with Public Health England and NHS London to ensure the organisations that receive grants take account of the most up-to-date evidence regarding the COVID-19 vaccination rates and the impact of COVID-19 on communities. Due consideration will be taken in relation to the portfolio of grantees and partners involved in the programme to ensure it is inclusive and addresses intersections between age and other protected characteristics.

3.4. Compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty will be kept under review throughout.

Key risks:

Links to Mayoral Strategies:

4.1. These events focus on recovery for young Londoners, directly linked to A New Deal for Young People Mission.

4.2. These events will provide a catalyst to conversations on mental health and wellbeing, directly linking to the Mental Health and Wellbeing Mission.

4.3. This workstream will directly respond to the London Health Inequalities Strategy focus on Healthy Communities and Healthy Minds – by allowing younger Londoners to participant in health conversations in their area.

4.4. There are no conflicts of interest to note for any of the officers involved in the drafting or clearance of this decision form.

5.1. Approval is sought for receipt of £33,000 in grant funding from Public Health England (£16,500) and NHS London (£16,500) as contributions to the youth vaccination engagement events.

5.2. The GLA will provide London Plus with the £33,000 grant funding to further distribute as grants to community organisations who will host youth vaccine engagement events.

5.3. The income and expenditure will be managed by the Community Engagement Programme held within the Communities and Social Policy Unit.