No images? Click here
June 2026 newsletter
Share this issue: 
Sign up to this newsletter
Welcome to the June edition of the Inclusion Barnet member newsletter!
It's full of information on developments at Inclusion Barnet, online resources, community events, access tips and ways to be heard. You'll also find some of the top national news affecting Disabled people including those with mental health issues and long-term conditions.
To find out more about each article, just click on its title.
Inclusion Barnet news
Welcome to the June newsletter, we hope you've been having fun in the sun. For many Disabled people, the heat exacerbates our condition, and medications can cause problems too. If you’re dealing with this, there are dedicated free cool spaces across London where you can cool down, extra ones should be opening in Barnet soon.
Our borough has been through a lot recently, from intense weather, to crimes and incidents that harm our wider community. If those things have had a negative impact on you, please reach out to the vibrant and warm services and activities in this newsletter who give support and connection.
Finally, if you want to be part of a movement speaking up for Disabled people in Barnet, join the June User Voice meeting online on Thursday 18 June at 5-6pm, where we’ll be talking about the pressure Disabled people face to enter work, and the barriers and helpers to that, this is for a House of Commons consultation.
Wishing you a wonderful summer,
Cat Whitehouse, Campaign Manager
Campaign for Disability Justice update
It's been really busy at the Campaign for Disability Justice! We reached 2500 members, and helped lots of them tell the Government what we think about the review of Personal Independence Payments -download the response on our website.
In June we’ll be looking at the impact of flexible working, Access to Work and equality laws, then giving Disabled people’s views to a new House of Commons inquiry. If you’ve got an opinion, reply to our survey by 5 June.
Inclusion Barnet awarded the Blueprint diversity mark for racial diversity, equality and inclusion!
We have become one of the first two charities to be awarded the Blueprint diversity mark! The mark shows our commitment to racial diversity, equality and inclusion, we are delighted to be recognised for our work.
We are excited to announce that our monthly User Voice meetings will resume with an online discussion on Thursday 18 June from 5.00 - 6.00pm! Facilitated by our new Campaign Manager, Cat Whitehouse, we’ll be talking about the pressure Disabled people face to enter work, and the barriers and helpers to that. All Inclusion Barnet members are invited! Book your User Voice tickets here.
Barnet needs your voice: join our workshop!
Have you or someone close to you been affected by gambling in a way that caused stress, worry, or harm?
Barnet Council Public Health is holding a small, supportive workshop to better understand how gambling affects people locally; what support is like (and what’s missing); and what needs to change.
You can help shape how support for people harmed by gambling is improved in Barnet.
How do you know if this group is for you?
You are:
- An 18+ resident of Barnet
- Someone who has experienced gambling-related harms, either from your own gambling or someone else’s
- Someone who feels safe and able to talk about your experiences and listen to other people’s
Why participate?
- Share your experiences in a safe, supportive environment
- Help shape Barnet’s approach to reducing gambling harms and improving support for others
- Receive compensation (a £22 voucher and lunch) as a thank you for your time and input
About the focus group
- When: Monday 22nd June, 11.30am–1pm
- Where: Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BG
Register your interest
Accessibility and contact
We are committed to making this event as inclusive as possible.
For questions or accessibility needs, contact:
info@inclusionunlimited.org.uk
Organised by Barnet Council Public Health in partnership with Inclusion Unlimited.
Young People's Advisory Group (YPAG) enabling better mental health outcomes
YPAG is leading an excellent project called MINDS-LC, to improve mental health outcomes in London for our children and young people! The project will use data to design better support systems for children and young people facing mental health challenges, to help them quickly and effectively. The work is in line with the NHS 10 year plan. The work is so valuable at a time when an increasing number of children and young people face mental health challenges. Great work YPAG!
Healthy Heart supports the local community at “Love Your Heart, Live Your Life” event
Our Healthy Heart team had a fantastic impact at the Love Your Heart, Live Your Life community event held on 13 May 2026 at the Golders Green Hippodrome. The event brought together local residents and organisations to promote heart health, wellbeing, and access to vital community support.
Excellent feedback highlighted that information was the most valued aspect of the event, with attendees appreciating advice, signposting and opportunities to connect with support services. Blood pressure checks were specifically mentioned as helpful, demonstrating the importance of early detection and prevention of high blood pressure.
Touchpoint Benefits Advice open to new referrals
Touchpoint Benefits Advice is open to new referrals, offering dates for the initial triage assessments for July onwards! We can help you find out what benefits you’re eligible for and work with you to apply for those benefits.
Touchpoint Peer Support remains paused to new referrals and enquiries following unprecedented demand earlier in the year. This is under continual review, and any updates will be made across our website and social media outlets.
No starters or leavers this month.
Opportunities to create change
Visit our consultations and campaigns page on the Inclusion Barnet website for all the latest opportunities to have your say on local and national issues that impact Disabled people in Barnet.
Your words can shape what happens in Barnet. It’s surprising, but some local consultations get as few as 14 responses*. Low numbers like these mean every voice counts
*For example: Barnet Council's proposed Fees and Charges 2024-25 for services, which got 14 online responses.
Here are opportunities to get involved in this month:
UK National Screening Committee (NSC) Consultation on Depression
The UK NSC is consulting on whether to change its recommendation not to implement screening for depression. Let's ensure Disabled people's views are listened to on this important topic.
Closes 3 August 2026
The unfair index from Designability
The unfair index is a national inclusive design research project shaped by the lived experience of Disabled people. It aims to uncover the top areas where unfairness in design is urgent, harmful, and fixable in everyday life. Let's give our input to produce the best outcome for the Disabled community!
Closes 15 June 2026
More ways to get involved
Find all of Barnet Council's consultations on the Engage Barnet website.
Visit our consultations and campaigns page on the Inclusion Barnet website
Local and London news and events
Exhibition: Flare up from Goldsmiths CCA
Flare-Up is a new free exhibition. It’s the first institutional exhibition in London to bring together UK-based and international visual artists whose work engages with the poetics and aesthetics of illness, Disability, neurodivergence and Deafnesss.
Open Wednesday - Sunday, 12.00 - 6.00pm until 16 August 2026
Goldsmiths CCA, St James’, New Cross London SE14 6AD
Age UK Barnet computer and technology support
Age UK Barnet volunteers can help you learn to use computers, improve communication with family and friends, find out what's happening close to home or around the world as well as many other aspects of technology. Available for over 55s.
Online and national resources
Autism Central - England's peer education programme from NHS England
Caring for an Autistic person of any age? Autism Central is the National Peer Education Programme for families and support networks of autistic people in England.
They offer families education, coaching, and connection through resources, one-to-one peer support, and group learning events.
The Autism podcast (from London Autism group charity)
Podcast aiming to improve our understanding of Autism and the lives of Autistic people.
National news - local impact
Access Tips
Warning: This section includes mentions of suicide.
Lucid Read is a free Chrome extension providing 35+ tools for dyslexia, ADHD, and visual stress, including typography, colour overlays, text-to-speech, dictionary, bilingual support, and classroom tools.
Emergency video relay service for Deaf people to obtain help in an emergency using BSL.
Free app designed to provide evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tools for managing anxiety, stress, and panic.
An app designed to help neurodivergent people (especially autistic individuals and families) discover and rate sensory-friendly, inclusive places around the world.
A free app for finding and marking wheelchair accessible places.
Be My Eyes connects blind or low vision users who want assistance, with volunteers and companies across the world, through live video and AI.
Seeing AI is a free app that narrates the world around you. Designed with and for the blind and low vision community, this ongoing research project harnesses the power of AI to open up the visual world. Seeing AI assists with daily tasks from reading, to describing photos, to identifying products, and more.
This free app helps Disabled people find accessible places. Wherever you're going, get accessibility information on your smartphone.
British Transport Police 61016 texting service
A non-emergency texting service for contacting the British Transport Police discreetly. You can text 61016 when:
- You want to tell BTP about an incident that has already happened
- You want to tell BTP about issues affecting your rail journey or your local station
- You have a general police enquiry
Suicide Prevention Stay Alive App
The Stay Alive app is a pocket suicide prevention resource, with information for those at risk of suicide and people worried about someone. It includes: strategies for staying safe, how to help a person thinking about suicide, and access to Barnet services and support.
Support with technology from Jewish Care
Jewish Care Explore offers support with technology to all adults within the Jewish community.
Learn more about Jewish Care Explore's technology support.
Register for 999 text services
999 offers a text reporting service for members of the public who may be unable to call in an emergency. Text 'register' to 999, and then confirm 'yes' when you receive a response. Once this is complete, you will be able to text 999 in an emergency situation and the police will respond.
Be an inclusion champion
Helping ourselves and others stay safe in the heat of Summer
With hot Summer weather arriving, Disabled people are often affected more than most by extreme heat at this time of year. High temperatures can worsen existing health conditions, increase fatigue, and make everyday tasks more difficult. Some Disabled people may struggle to regulate their body temperature, while certain medications and medical equipment can also be affected by heat. Mobility barriers and inaccessible transport can make it harder to reach cooler places or access support when temperatures rise.
There are several practical ways people can reduce the impact of hot weather for themselves and others. Staying hydrated, keeping blinds or curtains closed during the hottest part of the day, and using fans or cool cloths can help keep body temperature down. Planning activities for cooler times of the day can also make daily life safer and more manageable.
Individuals can also support others locally. Checking in regularly on Disabled neighbours, friends, relatives, or colleagues during hot weather can make a significant difference. Offering help with shopping, collecting medication, or providing transport to cooler spaces may help reduce risks and ensure everyone remains safe, connected, and supported throughout the Summer months, so that the longer daylight hours at this time of year can be enjoyed by all.
Join us
Share YOUR lived experience:
become a member of Inclusion Barnet
Individual membership is FREE and is for Disabled people, which may include long term conditions or mental health issues, and/or carers. Find out how being a member and sharing your lived experience can lead to positive change on our website.
Follow us on social media
Sign up to this newsletter
Was this newsletter forwarded to you?
Sign up and get the next issue straight to your inbox!
You are receiving this email as a member or friend of Inclusion Barnet, or because you signed up to receive it. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter please:
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.
Support our national campaign:
Every sign up counts
We're calling on the Government to work with organisations led by Disabled people to make employment easier to access and to improve social security so that everyone can live a decent life, whether they’re in work or not.
Our Services
Did you know we run libraries, Barnet Voice for Mental Health, community organisation support, and more? Find all our services and other newsletters you can subscribe to, below.
