No images? Click here April 2022 newsletterYour monthly update on all things Inclusion Barnet, as well as local and national goings on which impact the lives of disabled people in Barnet, including people with mental health issues and long term conditions. Welcome to the April edition of the IB newsletter. It’s nice to come bearing a couple of pieces of good news. Firstly, we have been funded to deliver a project to help people from Caribbean, African and Asian heritage communities manage their blood pressure. See full article for details, but this will be kicking off very shortly. Secondly, we’ve developed a new system of gathering feedback from our Touchpoint workers to try to influence change across the system. Again, see the full article for details, but it’s really good that this is leading to some work across the system which should create improvements for users going forwards. I hope you’re all enjoying the lighter evenings and keeping well. Some of you may even want to venture out to our upcoming
members meeting just before Easter – I know the team can’t want to see everyone again. Caroline Collier Get involved!Members meeting We’d love you to join us on Thursday 14th April, 12.00pm to 1.30pm, at South Friern library for our April members’ meeting. It will be our first in-person event since the outbreak of COVID, so we’re really excited! But don’t worry - the meeting will be hybrid, so you’ll still be able to join by video conference if you are unable to attend in person. If you’re not a member but curious, please stop by any time during the meeting to say hello to Eve, who will be hosting, and find out more about us. Oh, and yes – we’ll be providing free sandwiches too! More info and booking details below. Library volunteers wanted We’re looking for a volunteer to cover the Thursday afternoon slot between 1pm and 5pm every Thursday at our South Friern Library. You’d be working with our Library Manager, Nick Black who would welcome you and show you the ropes. The library is accessible for wheelchair users and there is a disabled ground floor toilet with hoist. For more details, please email nick@inclusionbarnet.org.uk or phone or text: 07732 901 129 for more info.
Inclusion Barnet newsMaking a difference Working with our Touchpoint customers, we find out all kinds of information about what is and isn’t working in Barnet. A few months ago, we started having regular team meetings to see how we could start to tackle some of the issues that have come up. This creates a list of issues that are causing problems for our users, so we then go and see what we can do about these by liaising with bodies such as the council, the DWP and Barnet Homes. It’s early days, but already we have a named contact for escalating issues that need social work input; we’ve asked for reminders to be send out to all GP surgeries about the need to respond to requests for information for benefit applications; and we’re working with the CCG to ensure that people who need interpreters for GP appointments get the access they need. We know that some of the bigger issues are systemic, while others require policy change at a local or national level, and of course we continue to advocate for these, but in the meantime we’re keen to identify quick wins that will make a difference. This piece of work will grow over the coming months and we will feed back regularly – and do tell us what other issues we should take on to influence for change. We want to help improve services for disabled people in Barnet so please tell us where else we should be concentrating our efforts. Welcome - new team member Welcome to Ashanty Alves (she/her), who we have recently welcomed as Project Officer on our Community Organisation Support team as part of the Barnet Together partnership. Ashanty will be supporting our Voluntary and Community Sector Support Lead, Ellen Cheshire, on a range of projects. She is passionate about empowering communities and creating more accessible spaces for people from underrepresented groups. Healthy heart advice service We’re delighted to share with you the news that we have won some funding to deliver healthy heart lifestyle advice to Barnet residents who experience high blood pressure. This funding runs until March 2023. We will be employing a small team with lived experience of disability and an understanding of South Asian, African, or Caribbean heritage communities in the UK. We’ll share more news with you soon. Ukraine media coverage We’ve joined over 170 Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPOs) in England to call for better media coverage of Disabled people in Ukraine. The open letter is being sent to National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine, the UK Minister for Disabled People, the press and media. Staff blog - mental health adjustments Our Communications Assistant, Ed Peston, shares some of the practical techniques he has found helpful on his journey through experience of Mental Health issues.
Staff blog - Then Barbara Met Alan Our Inclusion Unlimited lead consultant, Hannah Chamberlain wrote this great review on Then Barbara Met Alan, a powerful BBC drama on the story of disability rights activists Barbara Lisicki and Alan Holdsworth. Take a read on the link below or, if you missed the show, you can still watch it on BBC iPlayer. Staff blog: Medical gaslighting Our User Voice Project Officer, Sam Earle, wrote this thought provoking blog for International Women’s Day, about the sexism that disables many women in the chronic illness community.
Goodbye to Melissa Last month we said farewell to a much valued member of staff, Melissa Shaw. Melissa started as a Peer Worker in our Touchpoint team and more recently lead a pilot project, Stages, aimed at young disabled people. Melissa told us:
We thank Melissa for all her hard work and the important connections she has made with young disabled people, enabling us to continue exploring this community. Update from Healthwatch Barnet Our colleague, Melvin Lyons, from our Healthwatch team has been out and about in the community talking to residents about keeping well during the colder months into early spring. Contact Healthwatch Barnet info@healthwatchbarnet.co.uk if you would like to receive printed materials (available in different languages) or if a visit
from a team member would be useful for your organisation or community. Meet our teamSam Earle (she/her), User Voice Project Officer 1. How long have you worked at Inclusion Barnet? Campaigns, consultations and moreA1000 Experimental Cycle Route consultation – Enhancement
Opportunities like this is where we really CAN make a difference. So...disabled friends and carers, if you can, please consider applying.
Disabled film animators season Visibly Animated is a film season bringing disabled animators and stories to the forefront. For £5 you can stream all 10 programmes of animated shorts and talks on disability representation in film until Wednesday 6th April.
Reminder: Barnet’s pharmacy services consultation still open Clitterhouse Playing Fields phase 2 consultation The Brent Cross Town team are now consulting on the transformation of Clitterhouse Playing Fields and would like to hear your views.
Can you use your lived experiences to help design better information resources for people with suspected or diagnosed cancer?
The deadline to do this is 19th April.
Reminder: Accessible health Information campaign still live About usMembership Why not become a member of Inclusion Barnet? Membership: Inclusion Barnet services Have you heard about some of the other community services that we run? Click on the logos or buttons for more information. Sign up to this newsletter If this newsletter was forwarded on to you, why not sign up and get the next edition delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up here www.inclusionbarnet.org.uk You are receiving this email as a member or friend of Inclusion Barnet, or because you signed up to receive it. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter please: |