National Inclusion Week, user voice meeting, vacancies, campaigns and more... No images? Click here September 2023 newsletterFind out more about National Inclusion Week in the 'Be an Inclusion Champion' section 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 CEOWelcome to the September edition of our newsletter. It’s the beginning of a new academic year and a lot of people will be thinking about college courses or other learning. At IB, we’re doing a lot of learning internally in support of our new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. We don’t just want to champion disability equality, important as that is. We want to ensure that we’re a space where everyone feels welcome. We’re talking a lot about the way we all have different protected characteristics and how these intersect – and what that means for how we work. I’ll be looking forward to meeting new and old members at our next User Voice meeting later this month. It’s been a while since our last meeting and it will be our first with new Project Lead, Edward Phoenix. I hope to see some of you there. If you have any comments on this issue, please email me at: caroline@inclusionbarnet.org.uk. Caroline Collier, CEO, Inclusion Barnet. Inclusion Barnet NewsUser Voice meeting 28 SeptemberWe're delighted to invite members to our next User Voice Meeting on 28th September 12pm to 2pm. It's going to be an informative, yet sociable occasion, that you can join in person at South Friern Library, or online. Please do book a FREE place by clicking the blue button below for more information about the event and booking details. Our CEO, Caroline Collier will be there and we'll also have guess speakers from the Transformation Team, Adults and Health Directorate at Barnet Council:
If you live, work or study in Barnet and are not a member but curious about what we do and think you might be interested in becoming a member you are welcome to join this event to find out more. Carers are also welcome. See you there and look forward to meeting you! How we're celebrating National Inclusion WeekIt’s National Inclusion Week this September 25th to October 1st, 2023 and this year's theme is 'Take Action Make Impact'. It encourages employers to focus on making their workplaces more inclusive. At Inclusion Barnet, inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do and so it is a happy coincidence that recent work we have been doing on creating an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) statement coincides with this awareness event. Our EDI statement is being developed by our Communications team, with input from our staff and trustees, while also considering the feedback we receive from the people using our services. This process has led to new ongoing staff discussion groups being set up to explore the steps needed to truly embrace inclusivity. Our new EDI website pages will be available soon. Learn more about this important week and how organizations can join in below.
Healthy Heart updateIn August, the Healthy Heart team attended the Barnet Asian Women’s Association (BAWA) event at the Art Depot in Finchley, part of celebrations for South Asian Heritage Month. HH’s Riffat and Salna then went along to BAWA to speak about the HH project, with assistance from a Gujarati interpreter. As a result, all 30+ members chose to receive the intensive programme. There is currently a summer break from the weekly sessions at the Centre of Excellence in Grahame Park and West Hendon Hub, until 8 September. From 13 September onwards, these sessions will run again, and anyone who is part of African, Caribbean, or South Asian communities can drop into West Hendon Hub on Wednesday mornings (11am-1pm). Here you can get info on high blood pressure, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease, and have a blood pressure check. More at the link below. HH are also very pleased to support the launch on 13 September of a hypertension / diabetes education programme with Everglades GP surgery. It’s hoped this will lead to regular peer sessions at the surgery led by HH staff. The report for year 1 of the project is now in its final stages too. Look out for updates on our website! Leavers and StartersLeavers Last month we said goodbye to Ellen Cheshire after three years as our Community Organisation Support Lead and to Yosra Elhamamy, our dedicated Touchpoint Enquiries Worker. They have made invaluable contributions to our work and we wish them all the best. Starters No new starters this month but we’re currently scheduling interviews for the new peer vacancies we advertised during August in the Inclusion Barnet team. These are all paid roles, for people with lived experience of disability. Get to know usCharlie HallPeer Communications Coordinator With the growth of our organisation, the Communications team has now expanded to 4 people! This month, Charlie Hall, our Peer Communications Coordinator, shares what's involved in being part of the Inclusion Barnet Comms team. 1. How long have you worked at Inclusion Barnet? I joined Inclusion Barnet in May 2023. I was excited to join a Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation and bring my own lived experience of disability to the role. 2. What’s the main project that you’re working on right now? I’ve mostly been working on refreshing our website and giving it a new look! On the Comms team, my role involves doing behind-the-scenes work to ensure a smooth experience for our users. I’ve also been creating new content for our social media channels so our followers can stay up to date with our projects. 3. How does having lived experience impact your role? As a disabled person myself, disability awareness is very important to me. I face access barriers in my everyday life which has made me passionate about highlighting the Social Model of Disability and educating others on accessibility. 4. What’s the best thing about working at Inclusion Barnet? Working with supportive and open-minded colleagues. Everyone is always open to learning and it creates a really positive atmosphere where everyone wants each other to succeed. 5. What’s your favourite way to spend time when you’re not working? I enjoy being in nature and visiting farms so I can pet all the animals! Consultations and campaignsConsultation on London parking and penalty chargesAs part of their review into London Parking and Traffic Enforcement Penalty Charges, London Councils' Transport and Environment Committee have launched a consultation. London residents, and businesses, charities, and community groups can share views on the consultation by completing the 15 minute survey on their website. Campaign for more public toilets in BarnetIn 2022, Age UK consulted almost 600 older Londoners for their views on public toilet provision in the London boroughs where they lived. The results of this survey were used to form recommendations for local authorities. 81% said toilet provision was bad and 90% felt toilet provision was a consideration when planning a journey, citing reasons such as illness or disability. As a result, Barnet Council secured funding for five changing place toilets but no other advancements appear to have been made. Age UK have created 5 areas for action and you can get involved too. See their website below for more details. Sign the petition for Government to debate
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