News and Events
I’DGO featured in major new report on socio-economic implications of ageing.
July 2010
I’DGO is one of 14 innovative projects featured in Making the Case for the Social Sciences: Ageing, the second report on the value and impact of research by the Academy of Social Sciences. Dedicated to research into ageing, and how it supports effective policy making, the report is partnered by AgeUK and the British Society of Gerontology. Set within the context of recently announced tax changes and public expenditure reductions, the case studies illustrate the growing evidence base on the socio-economic challenges of ageing and how policy can redress wide discrepancies in life expectation, income and health. Launched at a ministerial event on Tuesday 20th July 2010, Making the Case... acknowledges the impact of the built environment on wellbeing and I’DGO’s progress in improving the quality of life of older people by feeding into the Global Age-Friendly Cities programme of the World Health Organization and the UK National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society: Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods.
Making the Case for the Social Sciences: Ageing is available to download here (pdf download),688KB.
For further information, please visit www.acss.org.uk, www.ageuk.org.uk and www.britishgerontology.org
I’DGO showcased at international conference on the impact of global change
July 2010
Five researchers from I’DGO, including Catharine Ward Thompson (Director), have taken part in the 21.IAPS conference on Vulnerability, Risk & Complexity in Leipzig, Germany. In line with the mission of the International Association for People-Environment Studies (IAPS), the conference addressed the relationship between the social, built and natural environments and how it is affected by global changes such as ageing populations. Talking about I’DGO methodologies, as well as findings, the team contributed to a programme of over 250 presentations and symposia. The five day event at the Leipziger KUBUS conference centre attracted delegates from 50 countries.
For further information, please visit www.iaps2010.ufz.de
Residential Outdoor Space analysis nears completion
July 2010
Quantitative data from the survey phase of I’DGO’s study into residential outdoor space (ROS) is being analysed by leading statistician Dr Chris Stride (University of Sheffield). In total, Dr Stride is looking at just under 2,550 questionnaires, of which almost half (1,229) were returned by participants aged 65 and over. One key finding to emerge from the analysis so far is that almost 50% of older respondents with residential outdoor space (such as a balcony, patio or garden) cannot do everything they want to in the space available to them, although they are still generally happy with it. Further analysis will aim to determine whether responses differ significantly according to the age of the participants.
Pedestrian-friendly Neighbourhoods study enters second phase
June 2010
Data collection has begun on the second phase of the I’DGO longitudinal study into pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods. Conducted over a two month period, from June to August 2010, the programme involves six fieldworkers from the Edinburgh-based OPENspace research centre. The team are interviewing older people who, during the first phase of research, lived in conventional residential neighbourhoods and who now live in ‘DIY streets’ (where ‘shared space’ changes have been implemented), as well as a control group whose streets have remained unchanged. The first of its kind in this subject area, the project explores how environmental changes to sites in Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Torquay, Port Talbot and Sheffield have impacted on older residents’ quality of life and patterns of outdoor activities.
WISE leads interactive session at University of the Third Age
May 2010
I’DGO team member, Dr Lynne Mitchell, has given an interactive presentation at the monthly meeting of the Oxford University of the Third Age. Based on her work at the WISE (Wellbeing in Sustainable Environments) research unit at the University of Warwick, Lynne presented on progress from the Residential Outdoor Space element of I’DGO TOO, which has now seen a survey response of just under 2,550. Asked “how important is the space around people’s homes?”, delegates gave ‘real time’ responses using TurningPoint technology, with the findings generally correlating with analysis of the official survey data to date. The event was held at the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education and was attended by around 50 older people.
SURFACE in Dublin for national Occupational Therapy conference
May 2010
I’DGO researchers, Rita Newton and Professor Marcus Ormerod of the SURFACE Inclusive Design Research Centre, have taken part in the annual conference of the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland. Presenting a 90-minute interactive workshop on the theme of Lifetime Neighbourhoods, Rita and Marcus worked with delegates to explore how best to support and promote older people’s independence within built-up residential areas. Participants were provided with a brief summary of key theory and practice in universal design, followed by the opportunity to work in facilitated groups assessing both barriers and enablers to being an older pedestrian. The workshop was informed by key findings from I’DGO’s first phase and guidance such as The Design of Streets with Older People in Mind.
For further information, please visit https://ssl.utvinternet.com/happen/aoti/index.asp
I’DGO trio in Beijing for invited Anglo-Chinese symposium on getting outdoors
May 2010
Three researchers from I’DGO have travelled to China as part of a select group of 15 UK delegates for a two-day Healthy Ageing and the Physical Environment workshop. Championed by the Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Initiative, the exclusive knowledge transfer event is being hosted by the Medical Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, in co-operation with Tsinghua University (Beijing). Focused on future collaboration between experts, the workshop seeks to encourage a multi-disciplinary, intercultural approach to linking healthy ageing with the built environment. Representing I’DGO in Beijing are Professor Catharine Ward Thompson (Edinburgh), Professor Elizabeth Burton (Warwick) and Hamish MacLennan (PhD student; Salford).
I’DGO presents at inaugural global congress in Australia
April 2010
The Director of the I’DGO consortium, Catharine Ward Thompson, has taken part in the first international Healthy Parks Healthy People congress in Melbourne, Australia. Speaking on the first morning of the five-day event, Catharine was joined by Cathy Gazey (Australia) and Gill Lawson (China) in a session on outdoor spaces chaired by Laura Payne (USA). In total, the congress attracted 1,200 participants from 37 nations, each wishing to explore how parks and contact with nature impact significantly on people’s health and wellbeing. Reporting on findings from the first phase of I’DGO, Catharine’s particular contribution was on the comparative importance of different outdoor attributes for older people.
One-day workshop explores a joined-up approach to inclusive design
March 2010
I’DGO has hosted a free one-day workshop on behalf of the knowledge transfer consortium, KT-EQUAL. Entitled A Built Environment for All Ages, the event at Edinburgh College of Art attracted delegates from a range of professions, leading to a lively, multi-disciplinary conversation on inclusive design and supportive built environments. Introduced by Robin Harper MSP, speakers were drawn from local and national government, academia and advocacy, with the research context provided by I’DGO team members Catharine Ward Thompson, Rita Newton and Lynne Mitchell. Afternoon workshops helped make connections between policy, research and practice and established the need for joined-up thinking among all those who shape the public realm.
The presentations from A Built Environment for All Ages are available to download in pdf format from our presentations page. A full report on the event, including recommendations arising from the workshops, will shortly be available to download from the KT-EQUAL and I’DGO websites.
Tactile paving research showcased at falls prevention event
March 2010
Current I’DGO research on the design, siting and laying of tactile paving has been exhibited at a workshop held by KT-EQUAL. Hosted by the Universities of Bath and Reading, the event brought together clinicians, scientists and service users to talk about the prevention of falls and fractures. Team member Rita Newton was on hand to talk about I’DGO’s work in this area, which involves both ‘real world’ and laboratory-based research with older participants. Delegates were able to learn more about progress by reading the three new I’DGO publications launched a week previously.
I’DGO launches new publications at flagship Anglo-Canadian knowledge transfer event
March 2010
I’DGO has unveiled three new publications detailing the progress made on each of our current research projects, collectively known as I’DGO TOO. The books were launched before a delegation of leading scientists and policy makers brought together, in Edinburgh, by the CIHR - Institute of Aging and KT-EQUAL. The high-profile event was supported by the British and Canadian High Commissions and involved a number of activities promoting research into age-supportive built environments. As well as the book launch, the programme took in seminars and presentations, a Healthy Neighbourhoods Workshop in Edinburgh’s historic ‘old town’ and lunch at the Scottish Parliament, hosted by the Cross-Party Group on Older People, Age and Ageing.
The three publications are available to download in pdf format from our publications page. They can also be requested in hard copy by contacting m.cox@eca.ac.uk. Many thanks to I’DGO partners Living Streets and Sustrans for facilitating the Healthy Neighbourhoods Workshop.
I’DGO connects with Edinburgh’s older people
November 2009
Members of the I’DGO consortium have met with Edinburgh’s Strategic Development Group for Older People at a seminar on age-friendly neighbourhoods. The event on 9 November was organised by A City for All Ages, a council-led plan for older people that promotes social inclusion and positive attitudes to ageing. I’DGO Director, Catharine Ward Thompson, was one of four key speakers, while newly appointed staff, Mary Craig and Máire Cox, took part in the facilitated workshops later in the afternoon. Addressing environmental issues such as outdoor spaces and transportation, these sessions focused on the World Health Organization’s Checklist of Essential Features of Age-friendly Cities.
Catharine Ward Thompson takes I’DGO to Europe
October 2009
The Director of the I’DGO consortium, Catharine Ward Thompson, has been presenting at two workshops in Europe, strengthening the project’s links with international initiatives.
The first event was Ambities voor Stadsgroen (Ambitions for Green City), a round-table discussion for researchers and designers linked to the Verborgen Stadsgroen (Secret Garden) biennale in Flanders, Belgium. It was jointly organised by KATHO, a university college in the city of Kortrijk, where the event was held on 1 October.
The second event was organised by AENEAS (Attaining Energy-Efficient Mobility in an Ageing Society), a knowledge transfer exchange supporting the European Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) programme. Entitled Walking and Traffic Safety in an Ageing Society, it took the form of a two-day training workshop for a group of 50 city planners, designers and policy makers. Catharine was one of ten invited experts who contributed to the plenary session on 28 October and participated in the practical ‘city walkabout’ exercise the following day. Her presentation is available to download from the AENEAS website, alongside that of the other speakers.
Advice to Government
I’DGO researchers have been invited to give advice, based on their findings, at a number of key events in recent months. These include
- Ministerial seminar on Lifetime Neighbourhoods, August 2008.
- CLG Stakeholder Roundtable on Delivering Lifetime Neighbourhoods and Inclusive Eco-Towns, August 2008.
- Scottish Government National Policy Seminar: Physical Activity, Healthy Environments and the National Performance Framework, Edinburgh, September 2008.
- Advice on Equality Impact Assessment for translating DfTs Manual for Streets Guidance into a Scottish context for the Scottish Government, November 2008.
- National Conference on Delivering Lifetime Homes and Neighbourhoods for an Ageing Population, supported by Counsel + Care and CLG, 2nd December 2008, London.
World Health Organisation Global Age-Friendly Cities: a Guide
This WHO publication launched in 2007 refers to the I’DGO guidance available on our website.
I’DGO TOO Launched , London, 21st June 2007
A new phase of projects under the I’DGO consortium, entitled ‘I’DGO TOO’, was launched in London with presentations from EPSRC, Help the Aged, WHO and SPARC. For details see the presentations
