How your feedback has started to shape London’s road to recovery

A big thank you to everyone who took part in our discussions on London’s recovery from COVID-19, during the month of August. We received almost 1,100 comments, from 609 of our members aged between 16 and 87. Over 22,000 of you read our emails, which many of you shared with colleagues, friends and family.
 
Recovery missions
Over the summer, we asked you to help us shape the missions to London’s recovery. We were keen to find out what these missions meant to you and your community, whether anything critical was missing and who should play a role in achieving each mission. 
 
Your views helped the Recovery Team to refine their missions ahead of the London Recovery Board meeting on 15 September. The Board were deeply grateful for the extensive engagement and your comments on our discussions. 
 
Here's how you made all the difference:

15 minute cities
Although some of you felt that the title of 15 minute city was a little vague, many of you were excited by the opportunity to reimagine the public realm. You stressed that enhancements should be based on the needs of local communities, who should be actively involved in the design and decisions. You also highlighted a need for public spaces to be accessible, to address vacant buildings on the high street, and to create local jobs.

The mission is now: High Streets for All - Deliver enhanced public spaces and exciting new uses for underused high street buildings in every Borough by 2025, working with London’s diverse communities.

Digital access for all
This was a very popular mission, as many of you felt that it’s a major factor of exclusion.  Access to devices, the internet and data is needed to access jobs, healthcare and other services. There was a sense that we should focus on the basic requirements of digital access first, rather than on supporting big tech.

The mission is now: Digital Access for All - Every Londoner to have access to good connectivity, basic digital skills and the device or support they need to be online by 2025.

Good work for all Londoners
You highlighted this mission as a high priority, that should help those who are marginalised or excluded from the jobs market to get work - particularly young people.  Good work should connect to people’s aspirations and also pay well. There is a need for careers advice and skills training for all ages as many Londoners may have to change their career due to redundancies.

This mission is now: Helping Londoners into Good Work - Support Londoners into good jobs with a focus on sectors key to London’s recovery.

Green New Deal
This mission received the most comments on Talk London. Clean air and green space and climate change were hot topics but concepts such as Green New Deal were less well understood. However, we saw from the Good Work discussion thread that creating jobs is very important to you, and this refined mission reflects that feedback.

This mission is now: A Green New Deal - Tackle the climate and ecological emergencies and improve air quality by doubling the size of London's green economy by 2030 to accelerate job creation for all.

A new deal for young people
In our Talk London discussion and community conversations with young Londoners, there was concern that young people are often not at the table when their futures are discussed, and that that should not continue. Young Londoners felt that their routes to employment had been disrupted and that access to support and training would be important. There was also a strong call for more youth clubs and activities. 

This mission is now: A New Deal for Young People - By 2024 all young people in need are entitled to a personal mentor and all young Londoners have access to quality local youth activities.

Robust safety net
This mission was seen as vital.  Many of you felt there was not much of a safety net before the pandemic and that it has got worse since.  For older people, food poverty and debt and financial advice (especially offline) were key concerns.

This mission is now: A Robust Safety Net - By 2025, every Londoner is able to access the support they need to prevent financial hardship.

Better health and wellbeing
This mission was understood in two ways. One specifically around the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The other around health and wellbeing of Londoners in general. In previous discussions, you told us that mental health is a real concern. You also stressed your concerns around the impact of the pandemic on your physical health, and how your local area played a big part in this: from amenities on your high street to encouragement for more cycling and walking.
 
This is now split up in two separate missions.
Mental Health & Wellbeing - By 2025 London will have a quarter of a million wellbeing ambassadors, supporting Londoners where they live, work and play.
Healthy Food, Healthy Weight - By 2025 every Londoner lives in a healthy food neighbourhood.

A strong civil society
This was a particularly welcome mission because of the desire of communities to be involved in the shaping of the city with a strong civil society. You identified the need for long term investment in and collaboration with the people on the front line.

Building Strong Communities –  A mission to ensure all Londoners have access to volunteering opportunities, the support they need and local networks was agreed in principle, but the precise focus and wording is still to be agreed by the Board.

What’s next
The Recovery Team are now working on guidance and timelines on how these missions will be delivered. We want to carry on the conversation with you and will regularly keep you updated on progress, including further chances to have your say and get involved. 

Read more about the London Recovery Programme.

Thanks again for taking part!
The Talk London team