During his re-election campaign Sadiq pledged to be a Mayor for all Londoners and to make the city accessible for all
In partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, the world’s first Dementia Friendly Venues Charter will make London’s cultural venues more welcoming and accessible for visitors with dementia
There are almost 70,000 people aged 65 and over estimated to be living with dementia in the capital
As London’s vibrant creative arts scene re-opens with the lifting of Covid restrictions, the Mayor, Sadiq Khan has launched a world-beating initiative to make sure those living with dementia in London and around the country can make the most of the city’s cultural attractions.
In partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, the Mayor has today (18 May 2021) launched the world’s first Dementia Friendly Venues Charter for cultural public venues, at the Museum of London, in a drive to ensure that every Londoner with dementia and their carers has a dementia-friendly cultural space on their doorstep.
It aims to transform cultural venues for people living with dementia and their carers through a range of dementia-friendly resources including sensory tours, inclusive performances, dedicated relaxed sessions, clear signage, designated chill out zones and staff training. Launching in Dementia Action Week, the Charter has been devised in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Society and the Museum of London. 40 major cultural venues, including Battersea Arts Centre, English National Ballet, Sadler’s Wells, Brixton House and the Albany, have pledged to sign.
Almost 70,000 people aged 65 and over are estimated to be living with dementia in London. They can experience memory loss, differences in sight perception, restricted mobility and be hypersensitive to noise levels, making visits to cultural spaces stressful. By signing up to the charter, venues will commit to take practical action to support visitors. For example, the Museum of London runs a ‘Memories of London’ programme that offers creative, sensory activities both at its museums and in care homes and day care centres, using its rich collection. Southbank Centre’s ‘Art by Post’ initiative continues to bring free cultural activities to over 4,500 participants people affected by social isolation including those living with dementia via local and nationwide partners (e.g. Age UK Camden & NAPA Arts in Care Homes), and Battersea Arts Centre and Hackney Empire run relaxed, dementia friendly performances.
Organisations that sign up to the Charter also become part of a Dementia Friendly Arts and Culture Network, delivered by the Museum of London, to share best practice. They will be able to access guidance and materials to help staff and volunteers become Dementia Friends and Dementia Champions, as well as new advice and support from Alzheimer’s Society to help them become more dementia friendly.
The Mayor is determined to make London the first dementia-friendly capital city in the world, and continues to work in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society to deliver Dementia Friendly London, a partnership with more than 350,000 Dementia Friends, over 1,000 dementia-friendly organisations and 25 boroughs accredited or working towards Dementia-Friendly Community status.
The announcement of the Charter comes as the Mayor spearheads a major year-long tourism campaign Let’s Do London, which brings together many of the capital’s leading organisations and venues to offer an unparalleled experience for anyone visiting the capital throughout the year. The campaign celebrates what our capital’s wonderful venues have to offer and urges Londoners and visitors to return to them safely as things reopen.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “I was re-elected on a pledge to be a Mayor for all Londoners and that includes those living with dementia and their carers, so I am delighted to launch the world’s first Dementia Friendly Venues Charter today at the Museum of London.
“As our city begins to re-open and our campaign to attract visitors gets into full swing, I want to send a clear message that our cultural venues are here to welcome people with dementia and we all have a part to play to ensure our capital is a more welcoming place.”
Amy Eastwood, Memories of London Programme Manager, Museum of London, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Mayor of London to the Museum of London today to announce the launch of the Dementia Friendly Venues Charter. As an organisation we strive to be accessible to all and with our Memories of London programme we have reached over 5,000 people affected by dementia since 2019. Through this programme we have been a core partner behind the Dementia Friendly Charter and are thrilled to see it launch today. We reopen the museum on 19 May and are excited to welcome back Londoners to our sites and to continue to work closely with those living with dementia and their carers.”
Kate Lee, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society said: “Alzheimer’s Society is delighted to be supporting the Dementia Friendly London Venues Charter and it’s fitting that it is being launched during Dementia Action Week 2021, where we all join forces to improve the lives of people affected by dementia. People living with dementia and their families have been hardest hit by Covid-19 and need our support more than ever. As London begins to welcome people back, it is fantastic that people affected by dementia will be encouraged to fully take part in cultural activities across the city through this initiative.
“Alzheimer’s Society has long been advising various sectors on how to make their services more dementia-friendly. The new Charter, and Dementia Friendly Arts and Culture Network, will ensure the London arts scene is inclusive and accessible for people with dementia and their families. Venues like the Museum of London and the 40 other venues that have pledged to sign the Charter are leading the way, and we would like to thank them, the Mayor of London and the City Hall for their continued dedication towards making London the world’s first dementia-friendly capital city.
“The Dementia Friendly London Venues Charter will not only help people affected by dementia in London, but also visitors affected by dementia and their families, who will now feel more able to visit London’s cultural venues.”
Vicky McClure, Actor and Ambassador for Alzheimer’s Society said: “I am delighted to support Alzheimer’s Society and the Mayor of London as they launch the Dementia Friendly Venues Charter. It is wonderful that 40 venues have pledged to sign up and make their venues dementia-friendly so that people with dementia can enjoy the array of vibrant arts and culture on offer in London. People affected by dementia and their families really need our support right now, and it is wonderful that all these venues across the capital will be more accessible to people living with dementia and their families.”