Latest news for disabled people in Barnet and beyond
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November 2023 newsletter
News on our annual member survey below.
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 November issue of our newsletter, and I hope everyone’s keeping warm as the days get shorter and cooler.
As you’ll see below, we were successful in our Anchor funding bid to the City Bridge Foundation. This will give us core support over the next seven years, enabling us to do more to challenge inequality in Barnet, and is a great achievement.
So it’s particularly fitting that our team member profile this month is of our fundraiser Ruth Mulandi, who, as she says, has been with us since the start and mentored me in the early days when I was a new CEO.
Fundraising effectively is skilled and highly competitive, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without Ruth’s amazing support, so a big thank you to her.
Whilst we’re performing relatively well for a local organisation, however, we are very aware that there’s always more to do, and that many of you will be experiencing challenges related to disability that still need further work. We can’t solve everything, sadly, but we will keep doing everything we can to influence where we can and represent your views – do come along to our members' User Voice meeting (details below) to help us do that.
Finally, wishing very happy celebrations to all those marking Diwali this month, and wishing a happy November to you all.
Caroline Collier, CEO, Inclusion Barnet.
Inclusion Barnet News
Success in bid for Anchor Funding
We are thrilled to announce that we’ve successfully secured a seven-year grant from the City Bridge Foundation's Anchor Programme.
This grant will play a crucial role in helping us keep core roles within our organisation going strong. It means we can continue work on addressing the ongoing problems that are making life difficult for disabled people and other marginalised groups in Barnet.
We can't emphasise enough how excited and grateful we are for getting this Anchor funding. The City Bridge Foundation has been an amazing supporter of our work, and this is a huge achievement for our organisation. We're also really proud of what we've accomplished in getting this grant.
We're looking forward to the positive impact this funding will have on our mission to advance equality and inclusion for all disabled people.
Healthy Heart: Report and update
The big news from the Healthy Heart (HH) team this month is that the Year 1 Report for the project has now been published. It was launched on 29 October, at the London Borough of Barnet's Black History Month storytelling event in Hendon Town Hall. The report is available to read on our website - see the link below.
Many activities have continued alongside this, such as the team taking part in World Mental Health Day at the Barnet Wellbeing Service (Meritage Centre). This led to plans to start Friday sessions within the Hub, during the Wellbeing Café, as well as some at the Iranian Community Hub in Finchley.
Salna continued her sessions with Living Ways Ministries in Colindale and attended the Black History Month event at Centre of Excellence, launching the new HH resource pack in Somali while she was there.
Plus, Riffat carried on running sessions at the West Hendon Hub and attended BAWA (Barnet Asian Women’s Association) to complete monitoring forms and catch-up with them, receiving encouraging feedback.
Annual Member Survey: Tell us what you need
We want to make sure we truly represent our members' thoughts and needs so we'd appreciate it if you could answer a short survey. It's only eight questions covering what's important to you, how you might want to be more involved with us, and how you prefer we stay in touch.
Your input will help us keep fighting for equality for disabled people in Barnet and beyond, including those with long-term conditions or mental health issues. If you take part, you'll also have a chance to win a £20 Love2Shop voucher in our prize draw.
If you're a member of Inclusion Barnet, keep an eye out for an email or letter from us with a link to the survey. The survey closes at midnight on 30 November 2023.
Not a member? Sign up here and then you can share your views too: https://www.inclusionbarnet.org.uk/membership/
Highlighting Transgender Awareness Week
Image by Freepik
13-19 November 2023 is Transgender Awareness Week; a week to raise awareness of the issues faced by people who are transgender and gender non-conforming, as well as to celebrate their achievements and successes.
This is followed by Transgender Day of Remembrance on 20 November, when we remember the people who have lost their lives due to anti-transgender violence.
As a Disabled led organisation, at Inclusion Barnet we naturally prioritise inclusivity. We believe our lived experience of disability makes us more empathetic towards other marginalised groups.
When individuals have multiple aspects to their identity, it's crucial for us, as both a service provider and employer, to ensure our values are reflected in our policies. We're currently collaborating with our transgender employees to create a policy that supports them during their gender transition at work.
For more information about our EDI approach, see our dedicated page below.
New Mental Health Charter launches
Image of Mental Health Charter launch, published on Barnet Council website
On 10 October, World Mental Health Day, Barnet Council announced their Mental Health Charter. It was designed with the Barnet Together alliance, along with input from residents and organisations across Barnet. The aim of the charter is to support the mental health of people living and working in Barnet.
As part of Barnet Together, Inclusion Barnet spoke to lots of representative non-profit community groups in the borough, including people with learning disabilities.
Our Healthy Heart Peer Coordinator, Judi Dumont-Barter attended the launch event, where everyone signed up to the charter and to taking action to bring it to fruition. Sadly, people with lived experience who were part of the development could not join but provided words of gratitude.
Find out more about the charter and its launch on the council's website below.
Next User Voice meeting: save the date
Our next user Voice meeting will be held on Thursday 30 November, so if you're a member of Inclusion Barnet and want to take part, save the date in your diary. In the next few days you should receive an email or letter from us with further details.
If you're not a member, you can still come along and see if user voice meetings are for you - just email Edward at edwardp@inclusionbarnet.org.uk to get the details.
Anyone attending the meeting is welcome to bring a friend or family member with them.
Find out the benefits of becoming a member of Inclusion Barnet and how to sign up, at the link below.
Benefits Advice Service temporarily closed
Due to staffing changes, we have had to temporarily close the Touchpoint Benefits Advice Service. At the moment, we will be closed until at least 2 January 2024, but this will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
From April to September 2023, our Benefits Advice service raised over £766k for our customers, supporting them to access the benefits they were entitled to. We look forward to helping more people to access these, once we have new staff in place.
On this note, we are about to advertise for two roles: Benefits Advice Caseworker/Supervisor and Peer Support Worker. Look out for these vacancies on the CharityJob website very soon.
Latest Voter Photo ID info session
As we mentioned in the last newsletter, the law around voting in UK parliamentary elections, local elections, and the elections for Mayor of London and London Assembly has changed. The biggest change is the requirement of acceptable photo ID to vote.
Last month we announced that we're holding a number of free sessions in Barnet to help raise awareness of this new voting requirement. Our latest session took place on 31 October, as part of Age UK's 'Tuesday drop-in with a game of bingo' at Colindale Community Trust.
We'll be holding more sessions around Barnet in the near future.
Library news: Rhyme Time is back
We're restarting our Rhyme Time at New Barnet and South Friern Libraries with a few new faces, so these will run again as follows:
New Barnet Library - every Tuesday: 10.15-10.45am for Babies, 11.00-11.30 for Toddlers.
South Friern Library - every Wednesday: 10.15-10.45am for Babies, 11.00-11.30 for Toddlers.
As before, numbers may need to be restricted, and attendance is on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Sessions are FREE and both sites are accessible.
New Barnet has a paid car park (free for 20 minutes, free all day for members of Better leisure group). South Friern has free street parking including a disabled parking bay outside.
For any queries, email nick@inclusionbarnet.org.uk.
Get to know us
Ruth Mulandi
Fundraising Lead, freelance
Fundraiser Ruth Mulandi talks about her work with Inclusion Barnet and the motivations behind her approach.
- How long have you worked with Inclusion Barnet?
Since it started – I helped set up it up as Barnet Centre of Independent Living when I was CEO at CommUNITY Barnet. I mentored Caroline, and in 2014 started working freelance with Inclusion Barnet.
2. What’s your main focus in this role?
I am the fundraiser for Inclusion Barnet on a freelance basis, which mainly involves translating strategies and plans into cases for support, identifying funding opportunities and writing applications. I’ve also helped set up the Barnet Together service and run occasional training for it.
"Inclusion Barnet lives its values in the work it does. It’s been fantastic to see IB grow and achieve so much, and it’s a privilege working side by side with everyone."
3. What motivates you in this work?
I have a little experience as a part-time family carer, with many close relatives who are disabled. This experience, combined with my life-long work on social justice and equality, is the foundation of my approach to my work. My focus is on lived experience of disability as expertise, and peer working/co-production as central to achieving equality.
4. What’s the best thing about working with Inclusion Barnet?
The dedication and progress towards achieving the organisation's aims. Inclusion Barnet lives its values in the work it does. It’s been fantastic to see IB grow and achieve so much, and it’s a privilege working side by side with everyone.
5. What’s your favourite way to spend time when you’re not working?
My background is in film studies and I teach adult education classes ‘on the side’, giving me plenty of opportunities to watch, read about and discuss films!
Find out more about Inclusion Barnet's success in our latest funding bid, to the City Bridge Foundation's Anchor Programme, in our top story above.
Leavers and starters
Leavers
No leavers this month but as Inclusion Barnet and our trading arm, Inclusion Unlimited, continue to expand, we have another new recruit to introduce!
Starters
We welcome Namrah Nadeem as the second of our two new Membership Development Officers. Both of these roles are in our Community Organisation Support (COS) Team.
Three more of our vacancies closed during October, so we are busy interviewing people for these and hope to announce the selected candidates soon.
Our vacancy for a Director of Communities (Peer role) also closes soon, on 11 November. If you've got the required skills and lived experience as a disabled person, why not apply? See the 'Work/Volunteer with us' section below for more info.
Consultations and campaigns
Watchdogs object to ticket office proposals
We are very relieved that passenger watchdogs Transport Focus and London TravelWatch have objected to all the current proposals to close train ticket offices.
In their response published on 31 October they stated:
"across all proposals, there are key issues, that are critical to maintaining accessibility to the national network that remain unresolved."
The government has requested that the train operators withdraw their proposals, saying that they didn't meet the required standards.
The consultation process is still ongoing in relation to two companies but responses to the majority of train operators' proposals can be found on the Transport Focus website at the link below.
We are extremely relieved to hear this outcome, as the suggested changes would have had devastating effects for many disabled people. The watchdogs received 750,000 responses from individuals and organisations, showing what can be achieved when we use our voices in a common goal.
Take part in survey on social care
Barnet Council are collecting your views and the problems you face, around accessing adult social care. The survey only takes a few minutes to complete.
If you'd rather share your views in person, they will be holding a focus group on 14 November at 2pm - email engage.adults@barnet.gov.uk for more details and to sign up.
Left hospital recently? Help shape a new service
North Central London Integrated Care Board and North Central London Councils are currently looking at ways to improve the experience of leaving hospital and need your help.
They need to hear from people with recent experience of leaving hospital in North Central London. Their aim is to create a service which is focused on getting people back to their best and sharing your experiences will really help to shape the way that journey works in future.
All they need is 1.5 hours of your time to join a resident focus group. All participants will be compensated with a £35 voucher for their valuable time and be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses like travel. This would be a face-to-face workshop at a location in Barnet to be confirmed.
To get involved and register your interest in taking part, contact Imogen Setter at Imogen.Setter@ppl.org.uk by Friday 10th November. Please let them know any accessibility requirements so they can make the necessary arrangements.
Have your say: Proposals for Burnt Oak
With LinkCity, Barnet Council are redeveloping the Watling Avenue car park area in Burnt Oak, adding new houses, a park and community facilities.
This is your chance to have your say on the proposals, and to draw attention to any issues around inclusion and accessibility; including any relating to the planned pedestrian and cycle paths.
Give your feedback in person at one of their November meetings or via the form on their dedicated website. Consultation closes 27 November.
Help the council form their equalities policy
Barnet Council are looking for residents to join their phase 2 workshop, to help form the EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) policy for Barnet.
If you register and attend the event on 14 November to share your views, you'll receive a £50 online shopping voucher.
Resources on climate change and disability
Disability Debrief have curated a resource guide on climate change and how it might impact disabled people. This guide showcases voices from the disability community, all over the world. It includes resources in plain language and easy read.
Carers strategy survey needs your views
barnet carers and the London Borough of Barnet are working together to develop and improve support services for carers, and to ensure their voices are heard.
Feedback you provide in the survey will help create a new Carers Strategy.
Barnet community news/events
First of its kind inclusive playground in Barnet
Image by pressfoto on Freepik
A while ago we shared Barnet Council's consultation on a Fair Play playground for Barnet. Last month Barnet Council announced that work on building the inclusive playground has begun.
The playground will be located in Victoria Recreation Ground in New Barnet and is the first of its kind for disabled children and adults. Inclusive design is essential at every stage in life, especially in terms of setting expectations for young disabled people.
Creative Communities events in libraries
Creative Communities is a Barnet Council initiative led by the library service to deliver free events and activities.
There's lots of sessions on arts, crafts and readings with authors taking place across the libraries in Barnet.
New music streaming service from Barnet libraries
Freegal is a new app from the library service for streaming music. It's completely free; all you need is a Barnet library card and PIN.
South Friern and New Barnet libraries are run by Inclusion Barnet with Barnet Council.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
Most people who are eligible will receive the Warm Home Discount Scheme (WHDS) payment automatically. If you don't receive it but think you might be eligible, contact WHDS before 29 February 2024. Check if you're eligible on the website below.
The WHDS is paid directly to your electricity provider and it will be shown on your bill. It is a one-off payment and will be made sometime between 31 October and end of February 2024.
Be an inclusion champion
Bionic reading tool for neurodivergent people
Based on the idea that we only need a few letters of a word to understand its meaning, bionic reading is a way of formatting text so you can read and comprehend faster. This might be useful to support neurodivergent people with speed reading.
Bionic reading software puts the first part of each word in bold font, so we can jump between moving our eyes across the page and letting our brain complete the word. We then don't have to read each word in full. You can also vary aspects of how it works, to suit your needs.
The 'discover' version of the app and Google Chrome extensions are free for now, so why not give it a go!
Tip of the month: meeting spaces
It's important to consider the accessibility of a location when planning meetings. Meeting in a shared space can create accessibility issues for visually impaired and/or deaf/hard of hearing people, particularly if there is background noise and/or other voices. A closed/private space is more inclusive due to the lack of distractions and interruption.
Work/Volunteer with us
Could you be our Director of Communities?
Who we’re looking for: someone with extensive experience of the voluntary sector, partnership management, and the gravitas to represent the sector to senior local leaders.
Salary Scale: £53,000 – £56,000 per year
Hours: Permanent, full- time
Working Pattern: We encourage flexible working to suit your work/life balance preferences where possible. We also operate a Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) system.
Based at: Most of this role can be done from home, candidates need to have, or be willing to relocate to, a base within about two hours travel time from Barnet. We anticipate a need to be in Barnet on a weekly basis on average, for which travel will be paid.
Please note – applicants must have lived experience of disability, which may include mental health issues or a long-term health condition.
For more details and to apply, see the link below.
Volunteer at South Friern or New Barnet Library
Interested in volunteering with us?
We still have vacancies for volunteers at New Barnet and South Friern Libraries. You’d be working with our managers, who would welcome you and show you the ropes. We especially need help for Saturday mornings at New Barnet (9am-12pm) but other shifts are available too.
The libraries are both on the ground floor, accessible for wheelchair users and have an accessible ground floor toilet. The libraries are co-run by Inclusion Barnet and Barnet Council.
For more details, email nick@inclusionbarnet.org.uk, phone or text: 07732 901 129, or look at our dedicated web page below.
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About Us
Inclusion Barnet is a Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation (DDPO), based in Barnet, North-West London. This means that all of our Trustees and most of our staff have lived experience of disability. Learning to use lived experience for social change is a skill. We use this understanding to design and deliver higher quality, more person-centred services.
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