The EFC project League of Historical and Accessible Cities (LHAC) has been included in the Roadmap towards and beyond the European Year 2012 for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. This Roadmap was launched last 18th of January on the occasion of the opening conference for the European Year 2012 (EY2012) in Copenhagen. The roadmap represents the contribution made by a coalition of stakeholders committed to work together for an Age-Friendly European Union by 2020, through the promotion of active ageing and solidarity between generations.
In October 2011 the EFC joined the Coalition of Stakeholders for the Year, signing a manifesto setting out ten proposals to promote an age-friendly European Union and will be involved in the implementation of the European Year’s activities. In particular, the EFC will contribute to the development of the Year by raising awareness within the foundation sector about the objectives; keeping foundations updated on initiatives undertaken at European/national level; and sharing information on foundations’ activities in the field with stakeholders at European level. The LHAC project, incubated within the EFC, has also been selected as one of the most relevant initiatives at national level for the European Year.
The League of Historical and Accessible Cities (LHAC) was launched in 2010 within the European Consortium of Foundations on Human Rights and Disability, the League of Historical and Accessible Cities’ main aim is to find innovative ways to reconcile cultural heritage protection and accessibility, which is one of the biggest challenges in Europe regarding accessibility and an important field for the foundation sector to engage in.
The project is being simultaneously implemented by a group of foundations in four countries across Europe, each of them in partnership with local authorities, disabilities groups, architects and city planning experts of the historical town of their choice. So far, Fondazione Banca Monte di Lucca is working with Lucca, Italy; Fondazione CRT with Torino, Italy; Fondation Réunica with Mulhouse, France; Realdania, Bevica Foundation, the Labour Market Holiday Fund and the Danish Disability Foundation with Viborg, Denmark; and Fundación ONCE with Avila, Spain. The goal is to establish an accessible tourist itinerary which is feasible for all: people with disabilities, elderly, persons with children to fully enjoy cultural and historical heritage. On these routes everyone will be able not only to walk around and visit interesting buildings, museums, parks, restaurants, shops, hotels and other key tourist attractions independently, but also to orient themselves and to interact with their surroundings. Based on these experiences, the League will launch a best practice guide to help other foundations and their partners interested in implementing a similar project in historical cities elsewhere.
To read the full text of the roadmap please click here
To know how to get involved in the activities of the European Year please click here
To find out the League of Historical and Accessible Cities project, please click here
Further information
EFC dedicated page to the EY2012
EFC press release on the launch of the EY2012
Official website of the EY2012