December 2024 newsletter

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Welcome to the December 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 about each article, just click on its title.

Inclusion Barnet News

Government White Paper and Council Tax Support Scheme consultation

Last month the Government released its White Paper aimed at getting Britain working. The White Paper mostly focuses on Disabled people including those with health or mental health conditions. Although there were some positive parts, our Campaign for Disability Justice team will be working hard to make sure Disabled people's voices are heard in an upcoming independent review of how employers can support Disabled workers. You can read the full story in our campaign news article.

Meanwhile, like many councils across the UK, Barnet Council is facing financial difficulties. A recent consultation to increase some social care costs understandably worried many of our readers. There is also another consultation happening to cut back on council tax support for low-income residents. We encourage you to share your thoughts on these changes before 6 January 2025.  You can find more information and respond to their survey via our news blog: Council Tax Support Scheme survey.

We'll continue to press local and national Government for clear and timely information, represent your views to those in power, and keep you updated on important issues.

Please let us know what you think of this newsletter and tell us about your experiences. There are several ways in which you can contact us.

Finally, to those celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, or Yule, we wish you a joyous holiday season and a happy New Year.

Geoff Fimister,
Head of Policy, Inclusion Barnet

Update: How our members are helping to shape accessible housing in Barnet

We recently shared an opportunity to help shape accessible housing in Barnet. We were delighted to hear that 8 of our members got involved, thank you for sharing your experience with the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN).

Our members shared their views on:

• Accessibility and housing quality 
• Supported housing 
• Housing affordability including the cost of adaptations 
• Communication and support from housing authorities 
• Future-proofing homes 
• Possibilities for technology and innovation 
• Transitions to adulthood 

How will this make a difference? 

Housing LIN will now work with the council to help inform the council's Market Position Statement. This is a document that explains how the council plans to help and work with local services, including care and housing. Our member's feedback will be used by Barnet Council to understand the support that is needed and will impact future decisions.

Healthy Heart teams Year 2 achievements

As part of Healthwatch Barnet, the Healthy Heart team works to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in Barnet’s African, Caribbean and South Asian communities. People in these groups have a higher incidence of and mortality from hypertension, compared to the national average.

Read all about their amazing achievements over the past year in their Year 2 Report.

International Day of Disabled People

3 December marked International Day for Disabled People, an awareness day celebrated by the United Nations.

This year's theme was about celebrating Disabled people as leaders. Reaching our full potential in life is important to us all. But Disabled people are often overlooked as leaders due to assumptions about what we can and can’t do. We marked the day on social media by joining many other Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations (DDPOs). We raised awareness about organisations like ours, where we are proudly led by Disabled people.

Festive opening hours

We're taking a short break over the festive period.

Inclusion Barnet office

• A small amount of staff will be working from 18 December to 24 December.
• We will be completely closed from 25 December 2024 and will reopen on 2 January 2025.

If you are in need of urgent support, please find resources on our website. Urgent support resources.

South Friern Library

• Closed from 25 December 2024 and reopens 2 January 2025.

New Barnet Library

• Closed Thursday 19 December 2024 (due to Leisure Centre staff training)
• Closed from 25 December 2024 and reopens 2 January 2025.

Starters & leavers

Ed Peston, who for several years has been producing our much-loved Barnet Voice for Mental Health newsletter, is expanding his role with us by managing digital communications for Healthwatch Barnet.

We are sad to be saying goodbye to Edward Phoenix this month, Project Lead of our User Voice team.

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.

Did you know? Some local consultations receive as few as 14 online responses*. With just 15 members like you we can sway decisions on accessibility, support, and resources in Barnet.

Here's some of the top opportunities to get involved in this month:

Changes to Council Tax Support Scheme

If you are of working age and currently receive help through the Council Tax Support Scheme, you are going to be directly affected.

254 people (out of the 18,000 working-age residents currently eligible) will no longer qualify from April 2025 under the Proposed Scheme. Pensioners are not affected.

Closes 6 January 2025.

Take part in the Council Tax Support Scheme consultation.

Shape a new inclusive and accessible play park

The council is looking at improving the play facilities at New Southgate Recreation Ground upper playground, as the existing equipment is coming to the end of its life. The proposal is to make the playground more inclusive with equipment that can be used by a wide range of children.

Closes 15 December 2024.

Share your views in the New Southgate Recreation Ground questionnaire.

Parking Charges Policy consultation

Charges for parking have been set and revised over a number of years in a way which has meant we now have a variety of charges that makes it difficult for visitors to make informed decisions about their travel. The aim of the policy is to set out the basis on which parking charges will be set in the future.

Closes 17 December 2024.

Have your say by filling out the Parking Charges Policy questionnaire.

Have your say on some new bus lanes

The council are looking for feedback on their final proposal for bus lanes on Barnet High Street, Ballards Lane, and Regents Park Road. The new bus lanes have been designed to reduce bus delays. Changes that may impact accessibility include altering some kerb alignments, new tactile paving at island crossings, changing the layout of some bus stops and bus shelters, and new restrictions on parking times.

Closes 19 December 2024.

A full list of bus lane proposals are on the council website. Have your say by emailing: HighwaysCorrespondence@Barnet.gov.uk

Share your views: Health and Wellbeing Strategy

Barnet Council are asking for your views on their new Health & Wellbeing Strategy. At this stage, the Council are asking for ideas early on in the process & there will be another opportunity to input from February. Share your views in the Health and Wellbeing Strategy survey.

Closes 31 December 2024.

Community space at Brent Cross Town

A new community space is planned to open in Brent Cross Town in 2025 and they would like to hear from you! Would you like bookable space for family events, access to online council services, or somewhere for your local book group? Or a base for a youth project, for arts and crafts, parent and child groups or something entirely different!

The council would like to hear from as many local people as possible so that they can develop spaces, events and activities that everyone can feel a part of.

Share your views on the types of events and activities you would like to see included in the community events programme next year and beyond. 

Closes 31 December 2024.

Share your views on parking issues in South Colindale

The council are aware of parking pressures in Colindeep Lane and Varley Parade and have also received concerns from residents of the neighbouring streets regarding the high levels of non-residential parking. The roads in this area have no parking controls and the parking issues could mostly be attributed to visitors to shops and displacement from the neighbouring Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs). 

The council would like to hear your views on:  

• Any parking issues you are experiencing
• Whether or not you would like a CPZ introduced in your road
• What hours and days of the week you would prefer the CPZ to operate if it were to be introduced
• Any further comments or suggestions you may have about parking in the area. 

Closes 5 Jan 2025.

Questionnaire on parking issues in South Colindale.

South Mead / Corner Mead NW9 – proposed parking spaces in Colindale CPZ (CL2) consultation

The council want to turn land that was occupied by old garages into parking bays for local residents. These new parking spots will be part of the Colindale Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ code CL2). Residents who have CL2 permits and visitor vouchers will be able to use these new parking areas from Monday to Friday, between 9am and 4pm.

Closes 23 January 2025.

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

Road and pavement repair schedule

The council are fixing potholes and resurfacing some roads and pavements. This may impact accessibility during the works, you should receive a letter in the post if it will impact your road. You can check the council website for updates and to see the dates that work has been planned.

Find your nearest warm spaces

Warm Spaces is a community-led initiative where businesses, community, faith or social enterprise organisations provide a welcoming space for residents to stay warm and engage with others in their community.  

You can find more resources about staying well this winter on the council website.

Grange Big Local opens Warm Space in East Finchley

Our Grange Big Local team have opened their Warm Space in East Finchley. They're open on Thursday's from 9:30am to 12pm until March 2025. You can find a full list of dates on their Instagram.

Come and enjoy their new coffee morning. Range of additional activities planned: arts and craft, talks and gardening (weather permitting). FREE, friendly and open to all!

Address: Tarling Road Community Centre, 20 Fallows Close, N2 8LG.

Questions or accessibility requirements? Contact: info@grangebiglocal.org.

Do you have difficulty travelling on public transport due to impairment or anxiety?

Able to Travel is a one-off, interactive and fun session learning about keeping safe when travelling by bus. Taking place on a moving bus, it aims to increase confidence and enhance skills as an independent traveller. Areas covered include road safety, unwanted passenger activity, witnessing a crime, stranger danger, the role of ticket inspectors, staying safe and asking for help. These free sessions take place once a month on Tuesdays. 

These sessions are suitable for people who are independent or aiming towards independence when travelling and are one of the following: autistic, have a mobility impairment, learning disability, are vulnerable when travelling, or who feel anxious about travelling on public transport.

National issue - local impact

Closes this month: Apply for Winter Fuel Payment

Eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment has changed and will now be means tested. The Winter Fuel Payment can help you with heating costs if you have reached State Pension age and receive a qualifying means-tested benefit. You could be eligible for either a £200 or £300 payment.

Applications need to be made by Saturday 21 December, the last date for making a backdated claim for Pension Credit, in order to receive the Winter Fuel Payment. Find out more and apply for Pension Credit online. 

You can check if you are eligible using the benefits calculator on the Age UK website.

Assisted Dying Bill passed in parliament

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was passed in Parliament on 29 November. We question the rush to push through a bill on Assisted Dying. Why isn’t there equal urgency about having access to good quality support and better palliative care? Many fear this bill will worsen society's negative view of Disabled people.

Disabled people are excluded from London planning systems

Transport For All released their report on transport accessibility last month. Produced with Disabled people who live and travel in London, the report identified three key issues that can be addressed to drastically improve accessibility.

Channel 4's 'Dispatches' - Complaint to Ofcom

In an open letter, we’ve joined our Campaign for Disability Justice and the Disability Benefits Consortium to call on Channel 4 to address our concerns and make corrections in a follow-up programme. You can read our open letter on our website.

Be an Access Champion

Learn about Disability History

Disability History Month is celebrated between 14 November to 20 December 2024. This is a great time to reflect on disability history.

The Social Model of Disability underpins everything we do at Inclusion Barnet, but where does the social model come from? Here are some resources to learn more about the social model and other Disabled action groups in the UK: 

• Series of blog posts exploring how disability can be thought about.
• The ‘Nothing about us without us’ exhibition.
  • BSL videos and audio-narrated guides of the now-closed exhibition are on their website. You can also watch the films that were part of this exhibition. Scroll to the bottom of the exhibition page for these links.

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 on our website.

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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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