How we helped stop the energy price rise, what the Healthy Heart team has produced to support your health - and more!
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April 2023 newsletter
Your monthly update on Inclusion Barnet services, plus community events and news affecting Disabled people including mental health issues and long-term conditions.
Update from our CEO
Welcome to the April edition of the Inclusion Barnet newsletter. It’s nice to see that Spring has finally sprung and the evenings are getting lighter – it’ll soon be time to think about some in person meetings again.
Last month I started talking about Inclusion Barnet’s four strategic objectives, and how we demonstrate that disabled people can take a leadership role in the community. This month, I want to talk about another objective: Disabled people in Barnet and beyond having access to person-centred services which address their individual needs and the systemic barriers they are facing.
At Inclusion Barnet, as well as delivering Touchpoint, which provides peer support and benefits advice to disabled people in Barnet, we’re just completing a major piece of research to understand people’s experience of adult social care. More on this soon.
Beyond Barnet, our consultancy, Inclusion Unlimited, encourages organisations to work in a person-centred way.
There’s always more we could be doing, but we are trying to demonstrate that services by and for disabled people make a difference.
Caroline Collier
Chief Executive Officer
News
MSE’s energy campaign, backed by Inclusion Barnet, is a success
IB was one of 131 charities to back Martyn Lewis’ campaign against the energy price rise this month. As you may have seen in the news, the campaign was a success, and the April price rise has been cancelled by the government.
Staff member’s lived experience enhances Ukraine support offer
Ukrainian support work carried out by our staff member Edward Phoenix was originally aimed at finding out what support was available for Ukrainian guests in Barnet.
By bringing his own lived experience of disability to the role, Edward discovered a reluctance among Ukrainian guests to discuss disability. This means many people could be missing out on crucial support.
As a result, the team are now working to encourage discussion and provide disability support, to Ukrainian guests. This work is funded by Barnet Council, and delivered as part of the Barnet Together partnership with Volunteering Barnet and the Young Barnet Foundation.
Did you know about Neurodiversity Celebration Week?
13-19 March was Neurodiversity Celebration Week and to mark the occasion, our Communications and Engagement Officer Sarah went along to Middlesex University for the Neurodiversity Celebration Week Festival.
The day was full of talks, performances and discussions from members of the university community who identify as neurodivergent.
Sarah said: “It was exciting to see that the university was treating this as a starting point for discussing neurodiversity, making the festival an annual event, so that Middlesex can become a really welcoming place for neurodivergent students.”
Touchpoint Benefit Advice Service on hold to new referrals
From 1st April – 3rd July 2023, our Touchpoint service is closed to new referrals for the Benefit Advice Service. This is due to continued high demand which has caused longer waiting times.
For customers already referred in, Touchpoint staff will be in contact in due course.
Keep an eye on the News page of our website, for information on when referrals will reopen.
Inclusion Barnet contributes to Barnet Council EDI policy
Members of the Inclusion Barnet team took part in Barnet Council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy (LBB) meeting, hosted by Barnet Together. Attendees explored the barriers that cause people to experience inequalities.
Inclusion Barnet’s contributions were informed by feedback from communities we’ve worked with and it was great to hear from others about the needs of our LGBTQI+ and other communities.
Healthy Heart team produce new resource pack
Inclusion Barnet’s Healthy Heart team has produced a Healthy Heart Resource Pack, in partnership with the Clinical Reference Group for the project. The resource pack has been endorsed by local cardiologist, Dr Ameet Bakhai. Next steps are to make the resource available online and translate it into more languages.
The team have also attended many events including for International Women’s Day at Burnt Oak Leisure Centre, where they gave out over 40 of the new packs. Members of the Healthy Heart team attended a review meeting with Barnet Council too, where they shared details of how they are meeting the project’s targets.
Leavers and Starters
Banos Alexandrou, our current Healthwatch Manager, will be leaving us at the end of April, when he’s completed the current research projects.
Sarah Mann, who has been doing research work on policy for us, will be leaving shortly to move into a role in the NHS.
Dhibla Mahamud has left Inclusion Barnet, as the research project she was working on has come to an end.
Sarah Chaffey, our Communications and Engagement Officer, left us in March to become Comms and Campaign Manager at Women in Sport.
Sarah said about her time at Inclusion Barnet:
“I’ve learned so much from the team, both what it’s like to work in the charity sector and from their lived experiences of disability. I’ll bring this new understanding of accessibility and inclusion to all my future roles.”
We are sad to see everyone go but wish them all the best in their next endeavours.
Edward Phoenix is joining our User Voice team to amplify the voices of our members on local issues. He will continue to advise on the Ukrainian support work.
Patrick Anderson will be taking over from Edward as Ukrainian Support Officer. He will also be supporting us with general outreach work to hear from local disabled people.
Get to know us
Emma Friddin, Operations and Data Lead at Inclusion Barnet
1. How long have you worked at Inclusion Barnet?
I joined Inclusion Barnet in August 2021. I can’t believe I have been with IB for almost a year and a half!
2. What is the main thing you are working on right now?
Making sure that we have the right systems in place at the times we need them. We are growing so fast and need to make sure that all of our policies, procedures, systems and software keeps up with us!
3. What motivates you in your role?
I am very organised, so I tend to be motivated by making sure that things are working as they should be. I love a good challenge, so I am motivated when something different to our norm crops up that we need to find a solution to.
4. The best thing about working at Inclusion Barnet?
It has to be the people. Everyone is so kind, friendly and welcoming. As soon as I started IB, it felt like I was already part of the team.
5. Favourite way to spend time when you’re not working?
I love a good book and am also an avid crafter, with a little personalised gifts small business. I am also a Board Member of a local Healthwatch; I really ‘enjoy’ using my experience of health services to make a difference.
Barnet Community Activities
IT Support Sessions for older people in Barnet
Age UK are offering free one-to-one IT sessions for older people, in several locations across Barnet. Whether you need help using the internet on a laptop, operating a mobile phone or downloading books onto a tablet, their volunteers can help.
Venue accessibility info (all venues have accessible toilets):
East Finchley, Edgware and Mill Hill (Hartley Hall): venues on ground floor.
New Barnet: venue on first floor and has lift.
Mill Hill (Milespit Hill): access is easier by appointment, in order to use gate and avoid the steps.
Barnet’s Warm Spaces continue to support residents
At the start of winter, many local businesses and community groups opened their doors for residents to use as warm spaces. As the cold weather has continued, many of these organisations are still keeping them open.
Email warmspaces@barnet.gov.uk for a list of the warm spaces or look at Barnet Council's website below.
Consultations and Campaigns
Get paid for your views on services in Barnet
If you live in Barnet and are disabled, including mental health or long-term condition, you can share your experiences with Barnet Council and receive £40 for your time. It’s part of a research project by Habitus Collective and the council on how services can be improved. To take part or find out more, email info@habituscollective.co.uk or phone 0207 207 3186.
Share your experiences of accessing the arts
The organisation Criptic Arts is gathering the experiences and opinions of Deaf and disabled people on accessing the arts in the UK. Their aim is to develop cross-sector commitments around levels of access for Deaf and disabled audience members.
Have your say on Barnet’s Mental Health Services
The Barnet Service User and Carer Forum has been set up, so you can feedback your experiences and ideas on local Mental Health Services. It takes place online, third Thursday of every month. Email Jess Lashko at jessica.lashko@nhs.net to request the Teams link, or to contact her if you need additional support to attend.
Have you heard of the GP Survey?
Community Barnet would like to find out how much you know about the GP Patient Survey by answering their quick poll. The yearly survey allows patients to share how they feel about their surgery. Community Barnet’s poll is only 5 quick questions and is anonymous. The results will be shared with Ipsos MORI (Market and Opinion Research International).
Health and Disability Reforms White Paper
The government is aiming to reform health and disability benefits and has made proposals in ‘Transforming support: The Heath and Disability White Paper’. Z2K, a charity challenging injustices, in the benefit system has responded to this document saying that the proposals ‘pose real risks to seriously unwell and disabled people’s financial security due to:
o An even more high-stakes PIP assessment
o A devastating cut for people who can’t get PIP
o A dangerous Work Coach lottery for sanctions.
Read more on Z2K’s website below.
Be an inclusion champion
Free Guide on how to make your events accessible
The Inklusion Guide is a free, downloadable resource on making your events accessible to disabled people. The guide was created because ‘Good access should be the norm, not the exception’. Although it’s primarily focused on literary events, a lot of the advice can be applied to event organisation in general.
Tip of the month: accessible toilets
If you see accessible toilets being used for storage or looking otherwise inaccessible (e.g. the red emergency pull cord is tied up out of reach), be a good ally and report it to the manager of the venue.
Work or Volunteer with us
Volunteer at South Friern Library
The library is looking for more volunteers, including someone to run the weekly Wednesday morning Rhyme Time activities for Babies and Toddlers. South Friern library is co-run by Inclusion Barnet and Barnet Council, and you can get more info by emailing nick@inclusionbarnet.org.uk.
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