Well we tried but so far London's Recovery does not seem to be including older Londoners. Following the meeting today of the London Recovery Board despite all our contributions to the discussion and our feedback as requested, we older Londoners barely have any great reference n their priorities, just as we are left out of London's strategies.
While we support the need for support going to the young we need an equal opportunities approach to the other main losers from the Covid pandemic - the old and especially the poorer and BAME seniors. There is still no cross cutting theme for older ( 50+) Londoners and there seems to be little recognition that whatever the exclusion and discrimination you may face it gets worse as you enter older age.
What to do, but to carry on pushing for older voices to be heard and for our wisdom to be listened to. The examples of other cities like Leeds and Manchester and even Torbay ! shows that it you really engage with your city's seniors and build partnerships then you can make the city not just better for seniors but for all generations.
Meanwhile our need for covid safe environments - in offices , in public transport, in educational establishments, in health and social care, in shops - continues and until we have a government able and prepared to take these things seriously and work with local expert partnerships we will still be at risk. This will hold us back from consuming, working and supporting voluntarily all those parts of the city and the country that need us to overcome this pandemic and the recession.
So one bright spot is that at least we have an Indian Summer for a few days.