Age UK London have been campaigning to protect older Londoners’ travel concessions, which include the Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card, for the past two years. On 15th December plans emerged that could mean the 60+ Oyster Card is slowly phased out over a period of several years. Before the eventual ‘full’ cut (which won’t happen until next decade) the eligibility criteria based on age would slowly increase. The full details are not yet known and the decision will be subject to a consultation. Although current users of the 60+ Oyster Card would not be affected (nor will Freedom Pass […]
Author: John McGeachy
John is Age UK London's Campaigns Manager.
Six reasons why we welcome commitments to protect the 60+ Oyster Card
Age UK London have been campaigning to protect older Londoners’ travel concessions, which include the Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card. New limits on when these concessions could be used and the threat of cuts meant there was a very real danger that these lifelines for so many people might disappear en
Fighting to save travel concessions
Before breakfast on Sunday 1st November we learnt that the new funding deal for Transport for London (TfL) did not include cuts or additional restrictions on older Londoners’ travel concessions (primarily the Older Persons’ Freedom Pass and the 60+ Oyster card). The previous 48-hours had been a time of anxious waiting.
We need to talk about older Londoners’ poverty
Did you know that London has the worst ‘pensioner poverty’ rate in the country and that poverty among older Londoners is rising?
Isolation, coronavirus & the need to support older private renters
Being less likely to know neighbours who can support you; not having a garden to exercise in, self-isolating in poor conditions and anxiety about when repairs can be made. These are just some of the challenges facing thousands of older private renters in London during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Update: Action to support old Londoners by Age UKs in the capital
The network of 23 local Age UKs in London will be a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of older Londoners over the next few weeks and months. We recently wrote about the launch of emergency activities implemented..
Age UKs in London rise to the challenge
In a world where the Covid-19 epidemic hadn’t happened I would have spent this Monday (30th March) with colleagues and around 200 older Londoners listening to the candidates for the next Mayor of London answer questions about how they would make the capital more Age-friendly.
Selective Licensing – Protecting Older Private Renters
“Selective licensing can also help tenants feel more secure in their homes by improving landlord practice via license conditions that focus on good landlord practice. Such practices include, proper deposit management, full tenancy agreements and restrictions on who can and can’t collect the rent.”
With the number of older private renters in London set to double over the next two decades, action must be taken to ensure the private rented sector is as Age-friendly as possible. Age UK London’s Campaigns Officer John McGeachy explains how selective licensing schemes could help to achieve this.
Making London an Age-friendly City
“Knowing where to start is a daunting prospect but thanks to last June’s announcement that the Mayor had signed London up to the World Health Organisation’s Age Friendly Community we have a strong platform to build on. Age UK London first called for London to sign up as an Age-friendly City ahead of the 2016 Mayoral Elections and whilst we now have a commitment from the Mayor it will be actions on the ground that decide whether we earn the right to call London an Age-friendly City.”
We’ve launched a brand new campaign to make London an Age-friendly City! Our new Campaigns Officer John McGeachy explains how we can achieve this.