London Healthy Places Network

The London Healthy Places Network has a remit of place-based approaches to health relevant to London. The networks are co-chaired on a rotating basis by network members and organisers from Southwark Council, other London Councils and the GLA. They bring together local authority colleagues and other professionals in policy, practice and research.

Future network meetings are hybrid at Southwark Council offices in Tooley Street and online. For more information and/or meeting invites, please contact Ros McDermott (Ros.McDermott@southwark.gov.uk).

The next meeting topic for Healthy Places will be on ‘Access to Public Toilets’ on the 21 May 2025. Reach out to Ros if you have insights to share at the next meeting.

Previous meetings:

A meeting held on 22 January 2025 had as its theme ‘Spaces for Creative Health’. Jacob Bayliss from the GLA gave an introduction to Creative Health and the ways in which it contributes to public health outcomes. Stephanie Wilson, Lead for Creative Health in the London Borough of Croydon spoke about the London Borough of Culture initiative.

This was followed by presentations from Alex Wells at Community Southwark and George Unsworth from Mortar who are matching available spaces in Southwark for VCS’ to operate for social good. They also shared insights from the Creative Clinic which is forming a consortium of VCS’ who are working in Creative Health to co-work in a suitable property (tackling issues with affordability of space).