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October 2022 newsletter
Your monthly update on all things Inclusion Barnet, as well as local and national goings on which impact the lives of disabled people in Barnet, including people with mental health issues and long term conditions.
Last month I was a co-signatory to a letter to our Prime Minster from the Disability Poverty Campaign Group and the Disability Benefits Consortium, asking for, amongst other things, an immediate increase in disability benefits to reflect inflation, and a new approach to social care. Money Saving Expert have published the letter. Sadly, rather than engage with our asks, the government is now refusing to commit to even uprating benefits by inflation in April. It’s a worrying time.
Despite the lack of engagement by government, it’s important that we keep writing, campaigning and advocating for a fair deal for disabled people. Even when we can’t get the ear of ministers, letters like this being published on a leading website will, we hope, raise the issue in the minds of the public and other stakeholders. Getting more resource for campaigns is a top priority for us at the moment, and we will keep talking about what needs to happen to ensure that disabled people have the decent future they deserve. Thank you to everyone who came to our recent members meeting – if we all keep advocating for change, change will come in the end.
Caroline Collier
Chief Executive Officer
Get involved!
If there is only one thing you can do...
Unless it is part of your day job, most of us don’t have time or energy to campaign for the change we would like to see. At our members meeting last week we asked Julia Modern from Inclusion London:
“If there is only one thing people have time to do to help advance equality for disabled people impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, what would it be?”
The response was loud and clear: Write a letter to your local MP. Today.
It is so easy to do, you can simply use the template letter provided in the link below just as it is, or personalise it if you are able. Adding some detail about your own personal story and how the Cost of Living crisis has affected you will have an even greater impact.
Vacancy Deputy CEO
Would you like a key role in our thriving Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation?
Full-time: 35hrs per week
Location: our Colindale office, meetings across Barnet, extensive opportunities for home working.
Salary: £48,000 per year
Closing date: 20th October 2022
If you have an ability to engage with people as equals, a solid understanding of casework and safeguarding, a collaborative and encouraging management style and would love the chance to campaign for a fair deal for disabled people, we want to hear from you.
This role is a real opportunity for a talented disabled person to make a difference.
Vacancy Communication & Engagement Officer
Are you great at connecting with people? Are you looking for an opportunity to showcase and develop your comms and engagement skills?
Salary: £25,000 per year
Location: NW9, hybrid.
Hours: Permanent, full time.
Closing date: 30th October 2022
Our new Healthwatch Barnet Manager is looking to recruit a Peer Communications and Engagement Officer to play a key part in their team. Healthwatch Barnet is a unique, user-led team which seeks to understand the experience of residents accessing health services, with the aim of increasing knowledge and driving service improvement.
Join our front line workers meeting
Last month, front-line workers from across the borough joined our Touchpoint Support team to chat about our experiences of the different ways in which we support Barnet residents. This helps us all to identify the biggest barriers being faced by residents when it comes to getting the right support. Together we can amplify diverse voices to those in power, to show what's not working and who is missing out.
If you are a front-line worker and would like to join our next meeting please get in touch.
Inclusion Barnet news
Member meeting update
We were delighted that so many members joined us in person and online for our meeting last week. Thank you to all those who were able to participate.
With the focus on the cost-of-living crisis we were joined by Renee Shingles from Barnet Council, Dan White from Disability Rights UK, and Julia Modern from Inclusion London who shared practical resources and tips. Here’s some useful resources from Inclusion London:
Raffle winer!
We’re delighted to announce our member, Anela, as winner of our member survey raffle held in August. Anela said that she was very pleased to receive the £20 Love2Shop voucher.
We hope that you are all starting to benefit from the changes we’ve already made to the way we keep in touch with you. Please continue to send your feedback and suggestions at any time, we always love to hear from our members whether with suggestions, constructive criticism or even praise!
New Manager for Healthwatch Barnet
Welcome to Banos Alexandrou (he/him) as our new Healthwatch Barnet Manager. Banos has been with Inclusion Barnet since March 2021 working on a social care research project. As that work now draws to a close Banos will be using his twenty-five years of social and market research in health service policy development, to lead the Healthwatch team to deliver on its key priorities for the next financial year. Banos told us:
“I want to demonstrate how a Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation like Inclusion Barnet really can bring the power of lived experience to the important function of Healthwatch in the borough of Barnet.“
Changes at Healthwatch Barnet
We're sad to bid farewell to Nitish Lackman, our Heatlhwatch Barnet, Manager, who is moving on to work within the NHS.
Nitish told us:
"I have thoroughly enjoyed working at Inclusion Barnet over the last three and half years on both Enablement and Healthwatch. Thank you for the opportunities you have given me to continue to expand my skills, knowledge and experience."
We thank Nitish for all the great work he has overseen during this time, not least the Long Covid report in collaboration with five other London based Healthwatch.
New staff
We welcome three new staff this month.
Colette Gallagher (she/her), pictured, is our new Touchpoint Peer Worker. Colette not only brings her lived expeirence of mental health to the role, but has the added value of over 17 years of working in the mental health sector and a degree in Psychology.
We will have some more information next time on our other two new team members: Yosra Elhamamy, Touchpoint Enquiries Officer and Dhibla Mahamud, who joins us as a Research Officer on the Healthwatch Barnet Team.
Healthy Heart Support
Our Healthy Heart Support team have been getting stuck in and meeting Barnet residents, particularly those most likely to be at risk from cardiovascular disease from African, Caribbean and South Asian communities. In the photo above, Riffat is at the Community Initiative for People with Housing Needs organised by Barnet Council.
If you would like the Healthy Heart Support Team to visit your community group
or organisation to talk about the free advice and support available or to find out about our free group and one to one sessions for yourself, please get in touch.
Helping local services understand disability
Last month our User Voice Lead, Eve Byers (she/her) pictured, trained over 100 members of the Barnet Adult Social Care Senior Leadership Team on the Social Model of Disability. Disability fluency in local services can help encourage change. If you run, or belong to a local organisation that would like to find out more about this, please get in touch directly with eve@inclusionbarnet.org.uk to book in a FREE training session for your staff.
Open letter to Government
As our CEO, Caroline Collier, mentioned in her introduction, as part of our role in the Disability Poverty Campaign Group (DPCG), she co-wrote this open letter urging Government to increase disability benefits and widen eligibility criteria to prevent devastating humanitarian crisis.
We were delighted that it was shared on Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis’s website.
Touchpoint reopens
We're pleased to let you know that we have now re-opened referrals into our Touchpoint Service having had to pause them during September as we were at capacity. Referrals can now be made via our website forms for both Touchpoint Peer Support Service and Benefits Advice Service.
Meet our team
Ashanty Alves (she/her)
Project Officer
1. How long have you worked at Inclusion Barnet?
Six months
2. What is the main thing you are working on right now?
Salesforce date integration. This is a vital piece of work for Inclusion Barnet, bringing together all our local intelligence and contacts into one single place.
3. What motivates you in your current role?
I think what motivates me to do my role is knowing that I am making a positive impact to the lives of others even by doing the behind the scenes work through creating systems. Having adequate systems in place helps to provide effective support to community organisations, creating a positive ripples effect on the people that they support. Knowing that I am being in service keeps me going every day. I am reminded of a quote by Muhammed Ali - “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
4. The best thing about working at Inclusion Barnet?
Working at Inclusion Barnet feels like being part of a loving community. I feel immensely supported within my role and also seen for my contributions as an individual. Inclusion Barnet ensure that their values are reflected in all areas of the organisation. I also love that in Inclusion Barnet there’s plenty of opportunities to learn, share and expand your awareness.
5. Favourite way to spend time when you’re not working?
I love journaling, going for walks and spending time with my friends.
Community events & activities
If you run, or know of any, local accessible activities or events in Barnet and the surrounding areas please tell us about them! We’d love to include things that have either been designed with disabled people mind or includes specific accessibility info and is free or heavily subsidised: info@inclusionbarnet.org.uk,
Black History month - inclusive event
Free music, art, entertainment and food celebrating the diversity of our community. Our Healthy Heart Support team will also be there on Saturday 15th October 1 to 4pm on the Graham Park Concourse NW9 5XA. The concourse has uneven ground with broken paving, so please take extra take care if using mobility aids – accessible toilets in the Colindale Centre located on the concourse. No need to book, just come along!
Walking football for the over 50's
Our Engagement Officer, Sarah Chaffey gave the Barnet Walking Football Team a run (or rather walk) for their money on her recent visit. Meeting at the Hive Stadium in Barnet every Thursday and Friday, the group is inclusive with quick and slow walkers, some now in their 80’s. It’s a great way to socialise with others whilst keeping active.
Read Sarah’s blog for more information and accessibility contact details if you’d like to find out more.
Campaigns, consultations and more
ULEZ charge grace period
Keepers of vehicles registered in 'disabled' or 'disabled passenger vehicle' tax classes benefit from a grace period where they are exempt from paying the ULEZ charge until 26 October 2025. Please note that disabled people over state pension age whose vehicle does not have 'disabled' or 'disabled passenger vehicle' tax class can apply directly to Transport for London (TFL) for the grace period if they:
Are in receipt of Attendance Allowance AND hold a Blue Badge
Are you a carer?
Barnet Carers are working with the London Borough of Barnet to try and get a deeper understanding of the issues and challenges that carers face.
You can help them to develop and improve support services for carers across the borough by completing this survey about your experience of being a carer in Barnet.
Accessible transport survey
Please take a moment of your time to fill in Transport For All’s short survey to shape decisions about how public transport serves Deaf and disabled people.
About us
Inclusion Barnet services
Have you heard about some of the other community services that we run? Click on the logos or buttons for more information.
Independent Living Centre, c/o Barnet & Southgate College,
7 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, London NW9 4BR
Inclusion Barnet is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
Registered Charity Number: 1158632
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