Liverpool commits to tackling ageism

"WE need to change the way we talk about ageing" - that's the pledge that Liverpool City Council will be making on Tuesday, 1 October 2019, the UN's 'International Day of Older Persons.' Deputy Mayor of Liverpool Gary Millar will join other Local Authority leaders in signing an open letter committing the City to talking more positively about later life, ending age based discrimination, and making Liverpool a great City to grow old in. It is anticipated that the letter, that has been co-ordinated by the UK Network of Age Friendly Communities, will be published in the national press. The signing is part of National Museums Liverpool's regular Happy Older People (HOP) network meeting at the Museum of Liverpool and Dr Anna Dixon, chief executive of the Centre for Ageing Better, will be the event's keynote speaker. Liverpool has a longstanding commitment to ensuring that older people can live active and engaged lives.  Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson signed a pledge to signal Liverpool's commitment to being an age friendly City in August 2012 and the City was accepted as a member of the WHO's Age friendly World global network in 2014. You can follow the events on International Day of Older Persons by using #AgeProud on social media. Other age friendly organisations are also welcome to make an pledge by using an online form.

Gary Millar, deputy Mayor of Liverpool, said:- "I am delighted to be signing this open letter for the City of Liverpool. Older people should be able to remain active and cherished members of our communities for as long as possible but to be able to do this we need to tackle ageism when we see it and challenge outdated stereotypes and unhelpful language. Research suggests that about a quarter of people over 50 have felt discriminated against whilst doing everyday tasks or accessing services and this is not something that any of us should accept. Liverpool committed to being an age-friendly City in 2012 and we have come a long way on that journey, but we know that we can keep getting better and better. All of us, not just the Council and our partners, need to think and talk about ageing differently so we can bring discrimination to an end."

Anna Dixon, chief executive, Centre for Ageing Better, said:- "Many of us are living longer. While some of us can look forward with confidence to enjoying later life, others are being held back by outdated and damaging attitudes. Negative stereotypes about older age can have a pernicious effect on our self perception, limit our ideas of what we can do as we get older and stop us making the most of these extra years. We are proud to have partnered with the UK Network of Age friendly Communities on International Day of Older Persons to call for a change in how we all talk about ageing and people in later life. It is great to see so many influential leaders who are committed to making their communities more age friendly, now collectively affirming their commitment talk more positively about later life. We hope everyone will join us to end ageism."

Council to purchase prime dockland for ₤1

LIVERPOOL City Council buying more than 55,000 sq metres of prime waterfront land, at Kings Dock, Liverpool, from Homes England, for ₤1. A report presented to the Council's Cabinet, on Friday, 27 September 2019, asked for the approval to acquire the freehold interest, for a nominal sum, to help trigger a new multi million redevelopment programme. The purchase follows the endorsement of a 2017 Masterplan and Planning Brief for the remaining development plots on Kings Dock to be transformed into a vibrant leisure based mixed use destination. Now approved, the Council will be seeking expressions of interest from developers and operators. The Council already holds the majority of the Kings Dock Estate under 3 999 year leases, incorporating venues such as:- M&S Bank Arena, the Convention Centre, Exhibition Centre Liverpool and Pullman Hotel, as well as several plots of vacant land, including the former waterfront car park, which was demolished following a fire on New Year's Eve 2 years ago.* Purchase of the freehold is part of the Council's strategy for the continuing renaissance of the City's iconic waterfront. It is estimated that the ACC Liverpool complex has generated a ₤1.6bn economic impact for the City since its creation in 2008;- and close to ₤200m in the last year alone. Alongside Kings Dock, Liverpool's waterfront is subject to several transformational projects including the redevelopment of Festival Gardens along the south of the Mersey shoreline, a new Cruise Liner Terminal, the 10 Streets Creativity District, the ₤5bn Liverpool Waters scheme and potentially a new football stadium for Everton Football Club in the North at Bramley Moore Dock. Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson, said:- "The transformation of the Kings Dock from a car park to a major tourist and leisure attraction has been 1  of our great success stories and has helped to fuel the Liverpool Powerhouse. Our iconic waterfront demands a world class offer and we have a master plan to ensure that continues to happen at Kings Dock,so we continue to attract the biggest names in entertainment, the biggest brands in the conference sector and millions of tourists from around the world supporting thousands of jobs. This transaction for ₤1 ensures the future direction of the site and our intention is to market the sites as soon as possible by seeking expressions of interest this autumn. Liverpool's waterfront has blossomed over the past decade, but we are not finished yet, the next phase of development at Kings Dock will arguably be more transformational than what we have already achieved. Its growth will also help further cement the City's growing global reputation as a great City for investment, leisure and to visit, work and live in."

* A new ₤30 million multi storey car park is currently under construction at Kings Dock. Built by contractors Willmott Dixon the 1,434 space car park, to be operated by the Council, is scheduled to open in Summer 2020.

Children see pornography as young as 7, new report finds

NEW research commissioned by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) shows that children and teenagers are watching and stumbling across pornography from an early age; in some cases as young as 7 or 8. As the designated Age verification Regulator, and in preparation for entry into force, the BBFC has commissioned this benchmarking research to report back to parliament on the effectiveness of this new regime. 2,344 parents and young people participated in the research, which was carried out by Revealing Reality. In the online survey, 51% of 11 to 13 year olds reported that they had seen pornography at some point, rising to 66% of 14 to 15 year olds. The majority of young people's 1st time watching pornography was accidental, with 62% of 11 to 13 year olds who had seen pornography reporting that they stumbled across it unintentionally. Children described feeling:- "grossed out" and "confused," particularly those who had seen pornography when they were under the age of 10. The report also demonstrated a discrepancy between parents' views and what children were actually experiencing. 75% of parents felt that their child would not have seen pornography online. But of their children, 53% said they had in fact seen it.

David Austin, Chief Executive of the BBFC, said:- "Pornography is currently 1  click away for children of all ages in the UK, and this research supports the growing body of evidence that it is affecting the way young people understand healthy relationships, sex, body image and consent. The research also shows that when young children; in some cases as young as 7  or 8  years old; 1st see pornography online, it is most commonly not on purpose."

Most children and parents interviewed believed that age verification would prevent children from accidentally seeing pornography at a young age, and would potentially delay the age at which they are exposed to it.  83% of parents surveyed agreed that there should be age verification controls in place for online porn. The research also showed that young people want age verification; 47% of children felt age verification was a good idea, with 11 to 13 year olds more in favour than older teenagers.

David Austin added:- "It's very encouraging to see that there is so much public support for age verification. We know that age verification is not a 'silver bullet,' nor should it be seen in isolation, but alongside other measures, such as education. However, age verification significantly reduces the risk of young children stumbling across online pornography by accident, as they do today. The research findings today have shown that parents and importantly, young people and children, want and need there to be stronger controls in place."

The report also looked into the effects of pornography on young people. 41% of young people who knew about pornography agreed that watching it made people less respectful of the opposite sex. Girls in particular spoke of their fear that aggressive depictions of sex would be seen as:- 'normal' by young male viewers of pornography, and accordingly copied in real life sexual encounters.

The UK Government has appointed the BBFC as the Age verification Regulator, because of our long and proven experience in:- classifying films, videos, websites and more, and our knowledge of online regulation. The BBFC continues to work with Government to make the UK the safest place for children to be online.

The introduction of age verification in the UK was delayed from 15 July 2019, that was to allow notification of the BBFC's Guidance on Age Verification Arrangements to the European Commission, under the Technical Standards and Regulations Directive. Once the standstill period under the EU TSRD is complete, the Guidance will be laid in Parliament, before entry into Force.