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June 2024 newsletter
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Welcome to the June edition of your Inclusion Barnet member newsletter!
It's packed with info on consultations, services, community events and ways to be heard. You'll also find some of the top local and national news affecting Disabled people including those with mental health issues and long-term conditions.
To find out more on each article, just click on its title.
Inclusion Barnet News
Healthy Heart Team drop-in event
Our Healthwatch Barnet Healthy Heart team will be holding a ‘Your Heart Health’ drop in event on Tuesday 11 June 9:30am – 12 noon at Grahame Park Health Centre, Everglades Medical Practice, The Concourse, NW9 5XT. This event is open to African, Caribbean and South Asian Communities. Drop-in to meet the team for free blood pressure checks and advice.
Copthall Gym's wheelchair accessible equipment
It's been a pleasure to support Copthall Gym to improve their accessibility signage last month. Our User Voice team helped highlight the importance of clear signage and the gym has now added stickers to their wheelchair-accessible equipment to make it easier for wheelchair users find the equipment for them. It’s clear Copthall Gym is all about inclusion!
IB helps Festival of Architecture with accessibility info
Our User Voice team met with the Council’s Festival of Architecture team last month to help them with accessibility info on their website. We are delighted to see they’ve included extensive accessibility details on their website, including, automatic doors, accessible toilets, BSL interpreted events, safe spaces and more! You can even filter events on the interactive map by access requirements. There is also a listed access contact for each event if you need to reach out for assistance.
Being heard – User Voice update
Our User Voice team are working with the engagement and co-production team at the local council to make sure your opinions on Adult Social Care help make things better. After the election, we're getting together with them to hold a meeting. We'll be inviting all our members to join us so we can chat face-to-face. Keep an eye on your inbox for invitations coming soon!
We're also happy to announce that Eve is back on the User Voice team! Let us know about any community events you think we should attend, and she will try to get there. Contact: uservoice@inclusionbarnet.org.uk or phone 020 34751314 or text 07719 105107
Last month we said goodbye to Ashanty Alves, Project Officer for Barnet Together's Community Organisation Support team.
We also welcome back Eve Byers who you may know from her previous roles at Inclusion Barnet. They have joined the User Voice team as the Outreach and Engagement Officer.
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.
Some local consultations receive as few as 14 online responses*. If just 15 of our members' responded to these, we could flip the script on disability representation.
Here's some of the top opportunities to get involved this month:
Share Your Experience: Help Improve Cancer Screening in Barnet!
Your anonymous feedback can help make screenings easier and save lives. Take a short survey about cancer screening services to help our colleagues at Healthwatch Barnet understand how to improve cancer screening services.
Closes: 16 June 2024
Get involved: Council drop in session for Deaf and Hearing Impaired residents
Your chance to speak directly with council officers about council services and improving access to them. They will also share information on how to use the councils accessibility tools and covering the topics of employment support and council tax letters.
BSL Interpreters will be present, and Refreshments available.
Contact Tamara.Kodikara@barnet.gov.uk for more info.
Session details: Tuesday 25 June – drop in anytime between 2 and 5pm at Barnet Council Officers, 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, NW9 4EW.
Use your voice: Deaf support in primary healthcare
Disability Action In Islington are looking to interview deaf people who live in Barnet. They are working with Healthwatch to support NHS North Central CCG to make sure the right support is in place for people using primary healthcare and advice.
If you are interested in taking part, please contact Ali by email: ali@daii.org
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.
*For example: Barnet Council's proposed Fees and Charges 2024-25 for services, which got 14 online responses.
Local news
Colindale tube station closes this month for upgrades
Colindale Tube station will close from Friday 7 June until December 2024 as part of its major upgrade, which includes making the station step-free. An additional bus route (NL6) will run every 15 minutes on weekdays at peak times between Colindale and Hendon Central. All journeys on route NL6 will be free of charge and journeys on route 186 between Mill Hill Broadway and Hendon Central will be refunded.
New sensory garden opens in Victoria Park
The garden has been assembled to stimulate all of your senses – Touch, Smell, Hearing and Taste.
Looking for mental health support? The Barnet Wellbeing Hub is a fantastic resource for residents in Barnet, offering a one-stop shop, linking you to services and activities in the community for mental health and wellbeing support.
Barnet Wheelchair Services now delivered by Ross Care
Barnet Wheelchair Services operator is changing from AJM Healthcare to Ross Care. Those impacted by the transfer will be receiving a letter to inform them of any changes.
Explore local micro-diversity on walk
Join London Festival of Architecture's free tour exploring micro-diversity at Meads, Watling, and Silkstream parks. Hear from local experts and join the community for refreshments. This is a wheelchair accessible walk.
National news - local impact
The next general election has been announced and will take place Thursday 4 July 2024. Remember to register to vote by Tuesday 18 June and bring along your photo ID.
Access Tip of the Month
DigniTEA is a UK based potter who makes adapted mugs for disabled adults.
Inclusion Champion
Check out Media Trust's resource on where to find diverse and inclusive stock images, graphics, and videos to use on social media and websites.
Join us
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:
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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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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.
