Mobilising Knowledge – Solving the Interaction Gap between Older People, Planners, Experts and General Citizens within the Thames Gateway Guidelines, Toolkit and Findings Dr. Alison Rooke and Gesche Wuerfel Centre for Urban and Community Research (CUCR) Goldsmiths, University of London (2007) This project is supported by the UCL- led UrbanBuzz Programme, within which UEL is a prime partner 2 The Mobilising Knowledge Project – Guidelines, Toolkit and Findings What is Mobilising Knowledge? A Summary The Mobilising Knowledge Project was Knowledge Project sought to overcome We found that older people were con- delivered through a summer school that the institutional and knowledge barriers cerned about urban change, urban ran over three weeks in summer 2007. among older people, planning profes- design, demographic change and re- It was organised by the Centre for Urban sionals and academics. generation. They were also interested and Community Research (CUCR), in the Thames Gateway developments, Goldsmiths, University of London, in In running the summer school, we found which will alter the east and south-east of New Cross, Lewisham. It was funded that many older people have an active London in the coming years. Participants by ‘UrbanBuzz - Building Sustainable interest in planning, regeneration, and discussed the impact of these changes Communities’ which aims to breakdown design decisions that affect them. The on design, housing policy and local the barriers of knowledge exchange in people who took part had been involved services such as transport, schools, order to contribute to the development of in park user groups, opposing and in- hospitals and GPs. sustainable communities in London and fluencing planning applications and de- the South East. Mobilising Knowledge velopments and had been part of neigh- Following on from the Mobilising Know- was developed with the co-operation bourhood watch schemes. While half ledge project, we have produced this and support of a range of departments of the group had been involved in older document and a short film on DVD which at the London Borough of Lewisham. We people’s social and campaigning groups, will be of use to a range of professionals worked with 22 residents of Lewisham walking groups and local history groups, seeking to work with older people. who were over 60 years old. The project the other half had not been involved in aimed to create a space for dialogue such matters previously. In the Mobilising Dr. Alison Rooke and Gesche Wuerfel between older people and policy and Knowledge summer school we explored Centre for Urban and Community planning professionals in order to explore a range of themes through a variety of Research (CUCR), Goldsmiths, older peoples’ experience of the city, and workshops. The different formats of these University of London (2007) find ways of incorporating these per- workshops are summarised in the Mobi- spectives into the planning and design lising Knowledge Toolkit and the results processes. In this way the Mobilising are found in the findings document. Contents What is Mobilising Knowledge? A Summary 3 About the Mobilising Knowledge Good Practice Guidelines 7 The Good Practice Guidelines 0 The Mobilising Knowledge Toolkit 9 Findings from the Pilot Project: Mobilising Knowledge – Solving the Interaction Gap Between Older People, Planners, Experts and General Citizens within the Thames Gateway 7 Bibliography 6 Disclaimer This document is the output of an aca- demic programme undertaken with con- siderable care and planning. However, none of Goldsmiths College, Lewisham Council, Age Concern, University College London or the University of East London or any of their staff or representatives accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred as a resultof any use or reliance upon the information and mate- rial contained within it. None of Gold- smiths College, Lewisham Council, Age Concern, University College London or the University of East London provides any warranty concerning the accuracy or completeness of any information con- tained herein. 6 About the Mobilising Knowledge Good Practice Guidelines The Mobilising Knowledge good practice This document Who is this document for? guidelines came out of the Mobilising Knowledge Summer School which aimed - offers a set of good practice guide- This document offers a useful set of to: lines for professionals who seek to guidelines for professionals whose work engage and interact with older people impacts on older people’s experience of - Explore older people’s experiences in planning processes, the city and those seeking to gather the of the urban environment, especially - provides a toolkit which outlines a set viewpoints of older people. It sets out accessibility, mobility and neighbour- of workshops for practitioners seeking practical, accessible guidelines for good liness, to engage older people in planning practice which can help to ensure that - Establish an opportunity for know- and urban design processes, and urban developments are more livable and ledge exchange between older people - sets out and explains the project more inclusive of older people’s needs in and planning professionals, findings. the future. The guidelines together with - Identify the barriers for older people in the toolkit will be useful for: the urban environment, - Identify the barriers for older people - Planners, when wanting to get involved in the - Policy makers, planning processes, - Community involvement and - Identify ways these barriers can be community development officers, overcome, - Equalities officers, - Identify good practice when consulting - Developers, older people about planning issues - Consultants, and - Designers and - Find ways of incorporating these - Transport planners. views into the planning and develop- ment process. Good Practice Guidelines 7 How can I use it? Why should I read the guidelines? into new attempts to regenerate cities. The guidelines establish clear and practi- The good practice guidelines offer a set Many planning consultation processes - cal considerations for seeking the views of principles when working with older such as sending out leaflets or e-mails, of older people. In using the guidelines, people in planning while the toolkit ex- asking the public to look at plans online, you can interact with older people in local plains how to run a set of straightforward and showing models - do not fully en- communities, explore their knowledge of workshops. The workshops can be gage a wide range of local residents. In the local area, and in that process work used to repeat the Mobilising Knowledge particular, those residents who are not to ensure that planning and regeneration process: running an intensive ‘summer able to attend public consultations or who are sustainable whilst considering urban school’ over a short period of time. Alter- are unable to participate due to barriers and demographic change. natively individual modules can be used such as mobility, hearing impairments, as stand alone workshops. The toolkit language, and access to the internet and guidelines can also be read together often do not get their views heard. Fur- with the Mobilizing Knowledge Findings thermore, many people find it difficult document which is one example of the to read plans, cannot understand plan- kind of lessons that can be learnt, and ning language and do not understand the data and information one can access how abstract plans for the future may in this process. The minute Mobilising be relevant to their everyday lives. Us- Knowledge DVD illustrates the process. ing overly technical specialist planning language puts people off. The Mobilising Knowledge guidelines offer you ways to overcome these barriers. They offer a useful instrument that helps professionals Read more: Toolkit - Page 9 ff. bring older people’s experience of urban Findings - Page 7 ff. change and past regeneration projects Participants working with professionals Good Practice Guidelines A Guiding Principle: Active Ageing and civic affairs, not just the ability to be and/or can help with engaging other local physically active or to participate in the older people in the consultation process. Just as cities are changing, people’s labour force. ‘Active ageing’ aims to ex- experiences of cities change as they tend healthy life expectancy and quality Working with older people in the Mobilising grow older. Their needs, experiences and of life for all people as they age (Hanson Knowledge process also contributes to other ability to move around the city change 2007). strategic goals such as building sustainable profoundly; as does their ability to par- communities, creating community cohesion, take in everything that cities have to offer. and involving communities. It contributes However, ageing should be considered Sustainability and Active Ageing to ensuring that the principles of ‘active a positive experience; especially when ageing’ are promoted in all aspects of we bear in mind that ageing brings about Although older people are often no longer local governance where this helps to fight many physical, mental and physiological part of the formal labour force, planning prejudices and work towards the inclu- changes that affect people’s functional ability. and development processes can create sion of older people. Longer life should be accompanied by opportunities for the continued participa- continuing opportunities for good health, tion of older people in economic, cultural, participation and security. The World