The London Development Agency (LDA) will provide a 1.5 milliongrant and decide which borough will start the project. The new centrewill provide a range of shared services and facilities for older people,children and young people and families.
Stephen Burke is chief executive of Counsel and Care, a national charitythat works to get older people the best support and care, which willadvise on the centre's development. 'Bringing older and younger peopletogether can help create stronger communities, increase mutualunderstanding and challenge stereotypes,' he said.
The London borough that is awarded the tender will develop the projectthrough its children's centre planning. Additional services will includeadvice on housing, pensions, mentoring and learning, as well asspecialist health and social support. All boroughs will be asked tosubmit an expression of interest by 8 October and a location should bedecided by early 2008.
Denise Burke, head of childcare at the LDA, said, 'We will look for anauthority that is in its third wave of children's centre planning. Thisis about innovative ideas and planning around the different age groupswho will be part of this centre. We are not looking for a bolt-on for anexisting centre.'
The centre will combine three of the key mayoral strategies for London:on childcare, children and young people, and older people.
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said, 'There are concerns about familiesand individuals becoming more isolated from each other, the widercommunity and between generations. This is reinforced when differentgroups feel they are set against each other and competing for resources,public space and attention.
'We want the first intergenerational centre to be a one-stop resourcefor all ages, for families and for individuals, with the objectives ofbreaking down barriers between people of different generations,combating ageism and supporting a sense of shared purpose that willbenefit all members of the community,' he added.