The latest from our CEO, Caroline Collier

As Barnet’s Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation, we only deliver services to disabled people in Barnet.  However, in terms of influence, we do try to be part of wider national conversations to get people thinking about disabled people and their rights.  We’ve managed to do two useful things towards that influencing role in the last month.  Firstly, myself and colleagues met with ACAS to help them improve the guidance on their website.  It’s a little-known fact that any employer can reserve any job for disabled applicants if they chose to do so. They’ve promised to go away and improve their guidance on that in the coming weeks, which is great news.  If that helps even one extra disabled person get a job in the future, it’s made a difference. We’ll share the link when it’s available.

Secondly, my deputy Rebecca Sare and I spoke at a national conference for directors of social services in Manchester last week, encouraging them to engage with co-production and setting out all the ways they could work with their local DDPO to improve their engagement.  We were sharing a platform with Dawn Wakeling, Barnet Council’s Executive Director for Communities,

Adults and Health, and we hope it will prompt more local areas to think about the potential for more services to be delivered by and for disabled people.  Disabled People’s Organisations don’t often get the attention they deserve, so anything that raises their profile has to be a good thing. 

It's going to take a lot of work before disabled people achieve full equality, and as a local organisation we can’t solve everything.  But I’m keen to let our membership know what we are doing, as where we can influence on behalf of disabled people, we do.  And we’ll keep doing that to the best of our ability.  Do contact me at caroline@inclusionbarnet.org.uk if you’d like to feed in any other ideas.  Wishing you all well for November as the run up to the festive season begins. 

Caroline Collier
Chief Executive Officer

Inclusion Barnet Annual General Meeting

Thursday 15th December
1.30pm to 3pm

Festive refreshments
3pm to 3.30pm

You're invited!

Join in person or online

We always welcome non-members to this meeting too so if you're not a member but are interested in what we do, please do join us. 

Members: do check your email inbox for your invitation and Zoom link this week.

Vacancy - senior role

This is an amazing opportunity for someone with lived experience of disability (which could include experience of mental health issues or a long-term condition) to lead on our Peer Services function.

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.

Starters and leavers

Last month we welcomed Edward Phoenix to the team as our Ukrainian Support Officer.

And sadly, we are saying goodbye to our Touchpoint Peer Support Officer Carole Thompson who supported many people in the borough to overcome barriers they faced as disabled individuals. Carole will be very much missed by all of us and especially our Touchpoint team and we thank her for her terrific contribution. 

Healthy Heart update

The Black History Month celebrations during October brought lots of opportunities for our Healthy Heart team to connect with locals from African, Caribbean and South Asian communities.

In the photo above (left to right) is our Healthy Heart Peer worker, Salna Abdallah, with Alesia from Barnet wellbeing and prevention team, Pastor Hope Yale from Livingway Ministry Church in Grahame Park and Jonah Care Services in Barnet.

Please get in touch if you'd like to hear more about this project.

Weakened immune system?

If you've not already had your Flu and Covid booster jabs, it's not too late to get booked in. 

Book an appointment with your GP or online: nhs.uk/wintervaccinations 

Find your local COVID-19 walk-in clinic at: bit.ly/Local-walk-in

Carers survey - last chance

Last chance to complete the survey for carers and young carers in Barnet. Barnet Carers Centre and Barnet Council are developing their strategy for carers so have your say by Friday 4th November 2022.