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April 2025 newsletter
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Welcome to the April edition of the 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
Warning: This newsletter contains disturbing content ahead, relating to death and severe poverty.
Last month, we learned about the Government's plans to cut benefits. These cuts will seriously harm Disabled people and could even lead to deaths.
Many of you will be affected by these cuts, either directly or by caring for others. Our Campaign for Disability Justice is now preparing for the 12-week public consultation that will begin once the Government has shared accessible versions of their proposals. It's vital that we speak out against them. Please write to your local MP – they can raise our concerns in Parliament. You can find more information and a new template in the “Opportunities to create change” section of this newsletter. We'll keep you updated.
Last week, we also worked with the Disability News Service to share a tragic story about a man who died after his benefits were cut. It's a difficult read but shows why our work is so important.
In more positive news, our Annual General Meeting (AGM) was successful, with members voting through a merger with charity Listen to Act. This means we'll soon be taking on the contract to run Healthwatch Enfield along with another smaller contract in Westminster doing Youth Voice. This will not affect any of our existing services, management, or the leadership of Inclusion Barnet. Sadly, our Healthwatch Barnet contract ends at the end of May, but we’ll continue to represent Disabled people in healthcare through many of our projects, including Healthwatch Enfield.
And to finish with news of a small win, some of our Touchpoint team worked together with our policy side to fix a problem with the Government’s Attendance Allowance claim portal, which was not letting people leave the form and come back to it after gathering evidence. This will help people in Barnet and across the country.
Thank you for your support.
Geoff Fimister,
Head of Policy, Inclusion Barnet
Inclusion Barnet AGM
We held a successful Annual General Meeting (AGM) last month. Thank you to everyone who attended.
Starters & leavers
Last month, we said goodbye to Sally Simmons, from our Healthwatch Barnet team, and Eve Byers, 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.
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:
NEW: Write to your MP - say NO to benefit cuts
The Government has proposed cuts to disability benefits which they announced last month:
Here’s a summary of what the proposals would mean if they go ahead:
- It would be harder to get the higher rate of Universal Credit and it would be worth less. New claims would be halved and then frozen.
- Under-22s would not be able to get the higher rate of Universal Credit.
- It would be harder to get PIP (Personal Independence Payment) because the rules for the Daily Living component would be tightened.
- Time limits would be introduced on new claims for contribution-based ESA (Employment and Support Allowance), even for the most severely disabled people.
These cuts would push many Disabled people into deeper poverty, worsening physical and mental health, and increasing hardship.
You can find out more about this on our Campaign website. In the meantime there is still time for us to unite to oppose these plans loud and clear, so please:
Write to your MP today using our simple template.
Help shape Barnet's Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy
Barnet Council would like to hear from you on their strategy to improve health and well-being in the borough. This strategy will be used by the Board to focus on creating supportive communities, better care services, and making sure everyone can access good health and social services. The Health and Wellbeing Board includes council members, the NHS, and community organisations.
Share your thoughts by completing the Health and Wellbeing questionnaire by 8 April.
Proposed changes to the Library Service
Barnet Council would like to hear from you on their plans to save money on library services. Plans include discontinuing the mobile library, cease purchasing hard-copy newspapers, and reducing the self-service opening hours at some libraries.
Take part in the library questionnaire by 20 April.
Route 310 is a new bus route operating between Golders Green and Stamford Hill Broadway. TfL would like to hear your views on their proposals for this route.
Have your say in the TfL questionnaire by 3 May.
Ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting consultation
The Office for Equality and Opportunity has launched a pay gap reporting consultation, to help shape legislation around mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting. Ethnic minority people, Disabled people, employers and the public are invited to respond in the consultation and feedback on a range of issues relating to pay gap reporting.
Take part in the Ethnicity and disability pay gap consultation by 10 June.
Experimental (trial) extension of the Barnet Hospital CPZ
Barnet Council have implemented a trial extension of the Barnet Hospital Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) and would like to hear your views. Find out more, apply for a permit or Blue Badge bay, or share your views on their website.
Have your say on the Barnet Hospital CPZ by 24 August.
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
FREE Tea & Coffee Mornings (ages 55+)
Join our libraries for FREE Tea & Coffee Mornings (for ages 55+) for free hot drinks and biscuits, warm friendly library space, meet other local people.
South Friern Library: Wednesdays 11am to 1pm
New Barnet Library: Fridays 11am to 1pm
Please visit our website for library accessibility information.
Creative sessions for Disabled people
Informal, friendly, free sessions for Disabled adults (aged 18-35) to explore their creative interests such as poetry, music, and literature with other like-minded adults.
1pm to 2pm, every fourth Wednesday of the month.
Stone Grove Community Centre, 5 Hayling Way, Edgware, HA8 8BN.
Access info: Step-free entrance, accessible toilet, gender neutral toilets.
For more info please contact Tolu on Tolu.Animasaun@barnet.gov.uk or call 07716 092715.
Barnet Libraries Literary Festival
Barnet Libraries' annual Literary Festival returns to Finchley Church End Library on the weekend of Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May.
Access info: Lift access to the basement level for events.
Barnet Mencap celebrated Autism Acceptance Week from 27 March to 2 April,, raising awareness of the many issues impacting autistic people and signposting to support.
Discounted leisure centre membership for carers
Better Leisure Centres are partnering with Carers UK during ‘Active April’ from 1st April to 4th May 2025. Carers UK members and those receiving Carer’s Allowance can access Better leisure centres at a discounted rate of £30 per month. Find out more.
Better leisure centres also offer a Carers FAB (Fit and Active Barnet) card for registered carers in Barnet, which includes free swimming and discounts on a range of other activities.
Age UK Barnet’s Household Support Fund can support Barnet residents over 55 who are currently facing financial hardship. The fund can provide vouchers towards utility bills, food costs and wider essentials.
For eligibility criteria and both professional and self-referral forms, please visit the Age UK Barnet website.
Struggling with energy bills?
Barnet Council, in partnership with Groundwork London’s Green Doctor service, have launched Barnet’s Free Home Energy Fix to support residents with home energy efficiency advice to reduce energy bills.
National news - local impact
The charity JUSTICE is supporting an amendment to the Mental Health Bill to extend the human rights protections for those receiving publicly funded care and/or treatment in private facilities. Read more about the amendment, also available in Easy Read.
Runnymede's report looks at how racism operates within the everyday structures of our society and limits people’s opportunity to be healthy, including physical and mental health. The report identified effective ways to improve health needs within policy and decision-making to address these inequalities. Read the report.
What will the abolition of NHS England mean?
The Prime Minister announced last month that NHS England will be abolished. This blog post from the Nuffield Trust explains how this change will impact NHS services.
Access Tips
If you are in receipt of Government benefits, you may be eligible for a discounted social tariff for your broadband. Check your eligibility and compare broadband providers on the Faster Broadband website.
The BBC’s programme for the Deaf community, See Hear, returns in April alongside new content showcasing British Sign Language (BSL).
Join us
Share YOUR lived experience:
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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:
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We're calling on the Government to work with organisations led by Disabled people to make workplaces easier to access and to improve social security so that everyone can live a decent life, whether they’re in work or not.
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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.
