London

The Mayor of London has published his new London Plan. The plan, which sets the overall strategic direction for London, focuses on key areas for the city’s development over the next two decades, including economic development; tackling climate change; housing; transport; and legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games.

London local authority members can now access free support to help them promote the independence and wellbeing of older people. The Department for Work and Pensions’ ‘Ageing Well’ programme, delivered by Local Government Improvement and Development, offers members more than 20 free seminars, peer mentors, residential leadership academies and external support to help them champion older people’s issues and address the challenges of an ageing society.

On 14 July, LAHF is hosting an interdisciplinary symposium as part of artist Deborah Padfield’s exhibition at the Menier Chocolate Factory. The exhibition is the result of a two year residency researching individuals’ perception of pain and the communication of pain. The event will feature a panel discussion exploring the way pain is communicated and the role the arts can play in supporting effective communication of pain. The panel will feature artists, physicians and scientists and is free.

London Councils has published a new web resource to help boroughs in delivering cultural services.

Information now available online includes research, advice and guidance on transforming cultural services in difficult financial times.

Click here for more information

Exhibition at the Menier Gallery showcasing works from Paintings in Hospitals’ London Collection.

The exhibition aims to show how this 52 year-old charity continues to challenge ideas about what kind of artwork is suitable for healthcare sites with its collection of bold and contemporary works by well-known artists.

People with dementia and Alzheimer’s and their carers or family members are invited to enjoy a cup of coffee and conversation with Kate Horbury and Harry Baxter, while looking at artworks from the Permanent Collections and exploring some objects from a tailor made multi-sensory handling collection.

11am – 12.30pm; £3; in the Fine Rooms.

w: www.royalacademy.org.uk/education/access-and-communities

Capital Age Festival is a cultural festival celebrating older artists.

The 2011 Capital Age Festival will take place at Bernie Spain Gardens as part of Coin Street Festival. The event will feature a wide range of activities and entertainment including live music, street theatre, information stalls and a popular tea tent. The event is free and open to all.

London Health Programmes has published a draft London Tuberculosis (TB) Plan to help reduce the TB rate in London by 50% over the next 10 years. TB is a serious problem for the capital; London now has the highest TB infection rate of any capital city in Western Europe.

Stakeholders from across London are invited to respond and contribute to the TB Plan by Wednesday 13 July.

Click here for more information

The next LAHF event is a look at the issues involved in creatively engaging staff who are working with people with a diagnosis of dementia. Jude Sweeting of Ladder to the Moon and Kathryn Gilfoy from Westminster Arts will lead the discussion and there will be opportunities to meet other artists working in this area. The event takes place at 5.30pm on 28 June.

The Localism Bill starts its second reading in the House of Lords on Tuesday 7 June. While London Councils is encouraged by the aim to empower local communities, there remain several areas of concern for boroughs. In particular, London Councils believes that the bill limits localism and genuine devolution; adopts a uniquely regionalist approach to London; and contains significant centralising elements, in the form of over 140 new powers for the Secretary of State. London Councils will be lobbying on these points in the run up to the second reading.