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January 2026 newsletter
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Welcome to the January edition of the Inclusion Barnet member newsletter!
It's full of information on developments at Inclusion Barnet, consultations, online resources, community events, access tips 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
Happy New Year to all our wonderful readers and members.
We’re refreshed for the year ahead as 2026 brings new opportunities and challenges.
There’s much to do this year as “migration” to Universal Credit continues, the higher rate of Universal Credit is cut for new claims from April, there are restrictions to the Motability scheme and PIP, Access to Work and benefits for young people are reviewed. We also have local elections happening in most areas, including Barnet, in May.
Which is why we’re delighted to share that we have been awarded some funding from the Legal Education Foundation which will help support part of our Campaign for Disability Justice. Over the next three years we’ll use this funding to influence national policy for a better deal for Disabled people.
Meanwhile, back in Barnet, more good news as we won further funding from the London Legal Support Trust and Societe Generale Bright Futures to keep our Touchpoint Peer Support services running. Plus, we secured a grant from Cadent to fund part of our Healthy Heart project.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Kind regards,
Claire Fisher
Head of Communications and Engagement
January User Voice members' meeting
After a successful first meeting in November, the monthly User Voice members' meetings will resume on Friday 16 January from 1.30 - 3.00pm.
We’ll share experiences and ideas and talk about changes in policy and services that impact Disabled people in Barnet.
You can attend either in person:-
Inclusion Barnet Offices, Independent Living Centre, c/o Barnet & Southgate College, 7 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, London NW9 4BR
or online via Zoom (link will be sent to you on booking).
Accessibility
- If you require a BSL interpreter, please let us know as soon as possible so this can be booked.
- Live captions will be switched on via the Zoom call.
- The venue is wheelchair accessible with accessible toilets.
- A changing place is also available.
Detailed accessibility information
To book, please email uservoice@inclusionbarnet.org.uk
Not a member of Inclusion Barnet but would like to join?
It's easy and free to join using the membership form.
Winter Warm Hub initiative at our libraries
With the recent weather turning very cold, why not take advantage of our Winter Warm Hub initiative at our two libraries? Free hot drinks and light refreshments are available as follows:-
South Friern Library, Wednesdays, 10.00am - 3.00pm
New Barnet Library, Fridays, 10.00am - 3.00pm
More information about our libraries, including accessibility
Laura Mackenzie, Project and Administration Support, is leaving Inclusion Barnet to start a new role. We thank her for her contribution to the Communities Team and wish her all the best for the future.
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 are opportunities to get involved in this month:
Consultation on proposed admission arrangements 2027/28, for Barnet community schools
If you have an interest in the future admissions policy for Garden Suburb Infant or Junior School, give your views on the planned reduction in intake from 2027/8. Let's make sure all parts of the local community, including those with access and other needs, are taken on board when taking the final decision on future intake.
Closes 31 January 2026
Royal National Institute for Deaf People social research
The RNID Research Panel is a group of people with lived experience and people with close connections to their cause that takes part in research on a regular basis.
They inform the RNID's work by helping them find out more about the experiences of deaf people and those with hearing loss or tinnitus.
The Research Panel is an opportunity to use your lived experience to help others.
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 and London news and events
Cirque du Handicap, 12 - 13 January 2026
Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AH,
A show by Jamaican-British Disability justice activist, actor and writer Simi Roach, about the power of Disability and how much the world tries to take it from us.
Disability and the Archives: Access, Absences and Action, 23 - 24 January 2026
A two-day virtual conference hosted by Shakespeare’s Globe examining how Disabled lives have been recorded, obscured, or erased across literary, performance, and institutional records.
Online and national resources
Provides free legal advice and representation for Disabled people.
Let’s talk low vision podcast (from Council of Citizens with Low Vision International)
The shows include guest speakers, resources and special topics related to adjusting to low vision.
National news - local impact
Labour accused of ‘horrifying’ betrayal of disabled people after slashing Tory accessible housing target (from Disability News Service)
Motability answers concerns over the Governments plans for the scheme (from Disability Rights UK)
Wheelchair space rules 'not enforced' on buses (from the BBC)
Access Tips
Warning: This section includes mentions of suicide.
A free app for finding and marking wheelchair accessible places.
Be My Eyes connects blind or low vision users who want assistance, with volunteers and companies across the world, through live video and AI.
Seeing AI is a free app that narrates the world around you. Designed with and for the blind and low vision community, this ongoing research project harnesses the power of AI to open up the visual world. Seeing AI assists with daily tasks from reading, to describing photos, to identifying products, and more.
This free app helps Disabled people find accessible places. Wherever you're going, get accessibility information on your smartphone.
British Transport Police 61016 texting service
A non-emergency texting service for contacting the British Transport Police discreetly. You can text 61016 when:
- You want to tell BTP about an incident that has already happened
- You want to tell BTP about issues affecting your rail journey or your local station
- You have a general police enquiry
Suicide Prevention Stay Alive App
The Stay Alive app is a pocket suicide prevention resource, with information for those at risk of suicide and people worried about someone. It includes: strategies for staying safe, how to help a person thinking about suicide, and access to Barnet services and support.
Support with technology from Jewish Care
Jewish Care Explore offers support with technology to all adults within the Jewish community. Learn more about Jewish Care Explore's technology support.
Register for 999 text services
999 offers a text reporting service for members of the public who may be unable to call in an emergency. Text 'register' to 999, and then confirm 'yes' when you receive a response. Once this is complete, you will be able to text 999 in an emergency situation and the police will respond.
Be an inclusion champion
Help make our streets accessible and safe for all
If you come across an accessibility problem in our streets, like a broken pavement or faulty street lighting, Barnet Council has a facility to report such issues. Whether the issue affects you directly or might affect others, use this web page to let them know of something on Barnet streets that needs to be put right.
Let's make our streets accessible to all of the community!
Join us
Share YOUR lived experience:
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.
Support our national campaign:
Every sign up counts
We're calling on the Government to work with organisations led by Disabled people to make employment easier to access and to improve social security so that everyone can live a decent life, whether they’re in work or not.
Our Services
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.
