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February 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.
I count myself very lucky to work at Inclusion Barnet, an organisation where we get to use our lived experience to shape our work, and there are lots of elements to my role I enjoy. One of the most satisfying things I get to do is meet regularly with the Touchpoint team (who provide our frontline services for disabled people in Barnet) and user voice team, find out what barriers our customers are experiencing, and then see what I can do to influence change. Whether it’s a straightforward thing like getting someone’s appointment rearranged, or a longer-term piece of work like exploring how we shift attitudes towards mental health issues, every time we manage to change something I feel like we’ve taken a step forward. Obviously, we can’t sort everything, other things will take time, and we can’t do it on our own. But working with Healthwatch, our partners at the council and others, I am confident that there are some areas where we will be able to create improvements.
Most importantly, we can’t do this piece of work without hearing your voice – what matters to you, what barriers you are experiencing. So please do come along to our User Voice forum, details below. We will do our best to create improvements when you tell us what needs to change.
Caroline Collier
Chief Executive Officer
Get involved!
Forum, Wednesday 9th February
Join our informal catchup online on Wednesday 9th February 6 to 7pm.
Anyone who is based in Barnet can join if you are disabled, have a mental health condition or long-term health condition or cares for someone else that does.
This month we will be discussing what we wish other people knew about the barriers we face. That could be a physical barrier (such as lack of access) or the attitudes of other people that make our lives more difficult.
It’s free, you can sign up using the link below and you can take part in a way that feels most comfortable for you. Video camera on or off, join in the conversation or just listen, write in the chat or join for just part of the session. Please let us know of accessiblity needs in advance.
Job vacancy!
As part of our Barnet Together partnership we provide support to Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise organisations right across the borough. Right now we are recruiting for a communities and faith development officer.
If you are on the hunt for a new job, this could be the opportunity you’ve been looking for.
The closing date for the role is 22 February 2022, but we may close early if sufficient applications received.
Communities and Faith Development Officer
Part-time (28 hours)
£30,000 per year pro rata (actual salary £24,000)
Contract, Until 31st March 2023, extendable subject to funding
Inclusion Barnet news
Welcome To Debbie Bezalel
Last month we welcomed Debbie Bezalel as our new Head of Community Services.
For those of you not yet aware, we run several community services in the borough through contracts awarded by Barnet Council. We run two community Libraries, South Friern and New Barnet Library; the local Healthwatch; and Organisation Support to the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise organisations as part of our Partnership with Barnet Together.
Debbie’s role will help bring a more joined up approach, and stronger representation of Inclusion Barnet in the community.
Library Rhyme Time is back
This month we have re-started Baby Rhyme Time and Toddler Rhyme Time sessions at both libraries, with limited places.
South Friern - Baby Rhyme Time 10.15-10.45am and Toddler Read & Rhyme 11.00-11.30am every Wednesday, from February 2nd.
New Barnet will be running Baby Rhyme Time 10.15-10.45am and Toddler Read & Rhyme 11.00-11.30am every Tuesday, starting one week later, from February 8th.
Both libraries are wheelchair accessible with disabled toilets and have audio and large print books available.
Mental Health newsletter
Our free weekly mental health newsletter, Barnet Voice for Mental Health, edited by our Comms Assistant, Ed Peston is now available on our website every Monday.
It’s packed full of useful information including free local services, events, support groups, tips, pod casts, workshops, regular features and more.
Why not set yourself up at the start of each week and get it emailed straight to your inbox?
You can view back copies and subscribe using the link below.
Goodbye to Alicia
Our whole team is sad to say goodbye to our lovely colleague Alicia Gowshall this month.
Alicia has worked with us over the past year on our Enablement team as the four-year project transitions over to Barnet Enfield Haringey Mental Health Trust to become the Recovery programme. Alicia told us:
“It has been an honour to work at IB, I will carry everything I have learned both in the next steps of my career and in my personal life. I feel proud to have been part of something so important.”
We want to congratulate Alicia on getting a brilliant job in the NHS in a very competitive market as a Psychological Wellbeing Therapist – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Meet our team
Carole Thompson, Touchpoint Peer Worker
Our Touchpoint service is our main public facing offer here at Inclusion Barnet. Run by staff who have lived experience of disability, we help other disabled people to find general information about local services and support. We also take referrals for
our one-to-one advice service, for people facing more complex barriers to help them access the support or resources they need to live the life they want to lead.
1. How long have you worked at Inclusion Barnet?
I started working at IB in February 2021
2. What is the main thing you are working on right now?
Main thing I am working on is contacting GPs and outreach Barnet and working on challenging barriers and setting goals with customers.
3. How does having lived experience impact your role?
Having lived experience helps to build trust in the relationship and can help customers to feel that they are being listened to. I enjoy empowering and giving customers space and time, giving them a voice.
4. The best thing about working at Inclusion Barnet?
Normalising disability and prioritising of mental health and wellbeing.
5. Favourite way to spend time when you’re not working?
I love spending time with my family and friends.
Coming soon...
New starters
We've had a few new people join our team just this week, so we will be updating on those next month. Or, you can keep and eye on our website for updates to our team page.
Upcoming vacancy
It's likely we will be recruiting for a new role over the coming weeks. If you are on the hunt for a new job opportunity, make sure you check our news page regularly for updates. Or follow us on Twitter or Facebook for breaking news!
Campaigns, consultations and more
Calling for all taxi and minicab drivers to have disability equality training
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, www.guidedogs.org.uk are asking the government to make sure that taxi and minicab drivers understand the rights and needs of Disabled people. Our CEO, Caroline Collier, wrote to our local MP, Matthew Offord, asking him to take action. You can use the link below to do the same using their super easy template, if you agree.
Draft Fit & Active Barnet Framework 2022-26 consultation
Ends 9th February.
This local framework, is about outcomes and proposed commitments for the development of sport and physical activity in Barnet over the next four years, aiming to ‘create a more active and healthy borough’ through a whole-systems approach. Let’s get local disabled voices represented on this consultation!
Home Start Barnet – Health Coaches Consultation
Ends 20th February.
Barnet Council would like to ask families who use the Home Start Health Coaching service their experiences of using it and any suggestions for future service delivery.
In particular, they want to know what users like and dislike about the Health Coaching service? How can we improve the service?
Community Safety Strategy 2022-2027 consultation
Ends 13th March.
The Barnet Safer Communities Partnership (BSCP) is updating the Community Safety Strategy, which will identify crime, anti-social behaviour, and community safety issues for the partnership to prioritise and focus upon during the period 2022-2027. What do we have to say as disabled people? Take the survey and make sure our views are included.
About us
Membership
Why not become a member of Inclusion Barnet?
Membership:
• Is FREE
• Connects you a growing network of disabled people in Barnet
• Gives your voice a boost where it counts
• Gives you a say in the future of Inclusion Barnet
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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