The Community Engagement team works to ensure that Londoners can play an active role in decisions that affect their lives. We also work with voluntary organisations and community groups to support their work to improve the lives of Londoners.
Every few months we'll be sharing our latest news, so do keep checking City Hall blogs to find out what we're up to!
Here are some of our highlights:
London Plan consultation
On 16 February, we jointly hosted a London Plan consultation event with London Funders, GLV and the Way Ahead. The event focused on the social infrastructure chapter of the London plan and what it means for civil society and communities across London.
It was well attended, and based on group discussions and feedback, London Funders and GLV put forward a co-produced response to the London Plan.
Civil Society 'Data Surgery'
As part of our support of civil society, we are always seeking opportunities to bring together the voluntary and community sector with data experts.
On 19 March a team from the Intelligence unit took part in the GLA’s first 'Data Surgery'. Six charities came along and received advice from the data analysts in the team to help them make the most out of the data they hold.
The charities, ranging from large national charities including Victim Support and Mencap to small local organisations such as Harrow Association of Somali Voluntary Organisations and Lambeth’s Black Prince Trust, said they found the discussions useful and took away some practical tips to use in their organisations.
Somalis: A nation of poets
The Mayor's Citizen Led Engagement team is co-designing four community-led projects, exploring what it means to belong in London, looking specifically at social integration. We asked Hanna Ali, Project Manager of Kayd, to tell us about their project, ‘Somalis: A nation of poets’.
This research is a wonderful opportunity for us to research the role of poetry in the Somali community and culture. And in focusing on the diaspora in London, we can also investigate how a new generation of British-Somalis has influenced Somali poetry by writing in English and how this has affected the community.
Time to Thrive: are Londoners OK?
London is an exciting city, but it can sometimes feel difficult to get your voice heard. Time to Thrive is a project that aims to address this, by looking at the impact of discrimination on people with mental health and wellbeing issues.
Thrive LDN is a citywide movement to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all Londoners, and they are working with Revealing Reality on this ground-breaking research to capture Londoners’ stories of mental health and wellbeing in the capital. They would like to hear from you, about who you are, and what you think it takes for Londoners to be happy and healthy.
Building on the power of older people
Through the #agefriendlylondon project, the GLA is exploring how London can become more age friendly, as well as the role that older people could play in making this happen.
A report considers those who are already mobilising others to make London more age friendly and asks what they feel could be improved, what they think is going well, and what opportunities they see for older residents to shape London as a good place to grow old in. It concludes that if we are to develop better practice there is a need to share learning and support older people’s organisations to strategise and organise.
Download our #agefriendlylondon report.
London Family Fund
Part of the Social Integration strategy, which will address social integration in London, the London Family Fund will bring together families from all backgrounds in the capital to reduce social isolation.
There is £600,000 on offer over three years, and it will encourage families from diverse backgrounds to come together for mutual support and a common purpose. It will help them build networks with families from different backgrounds, including those who may otherwise face loneliness or disadvantage, and develop lasting and meaningful relationships.
The deadline for initial applications is midday 27 April 2018. Apply here.