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June 2025 newsletter
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Welcome to the June 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
Welcome to the June issue of IB newsletter. This month we’ve been contributing to activities linked to the current Government initiatives to “Keep Britain Working” to ensure Disabled people’s voices are represented, including advocating for more accessible opportunities.
We’ve been feeding into an independent review of the role of employers in health and disability about how to lead, recruit and retain Disabled people in employment. We’ve also been talking to Professor Adam Whitworth, of the Department of Work, Employment and Organisation (WEO) at Strathclyde Business School, about how job crafting could work in Barnet. And we are also connecting with the Business Disability Forum to learn more about their valuable work and see how we can best support each other.
As the Listen to Act charity joins IB we’ve included some more information below about each of the new projects: Healthwatch Enfield, The Young People’s Advisory Group and the ARC Outreach Alliance Programme. And finally, we’re pleased to share that the Healthy Hearts team has returned to reporting through IB (they were temporarily under Healthwatch Barnet), so we’ll be featuring their updates in our newsletter once again.
Behind the scenes we’ve been busy working on Campaigning against benefit cuts. This is your very last chance to add your voice to our open letter to the Government calling on them to fully involve Disabled people in reviews of the PIP assessment process, Work Capability Assessment, safeguarding, the role of employers and employment support provision and Access to Work.
If you haven’t done so already – please sign our open letter and help to spread the word in your networks.
Kind regards,
Geoff Fimister
Head of Policy
Healthwatch Enfield joins Inclusion Barnet
With the Listen to Act charity joining IB last month, we’re excited to officially welcome the Healthwatch Enfield Team to Inclusion Barnet. Their innovative work, including recently published Barriers to Breast & Cervical Cancer Screening brings a unified approach to a number of health initiatives across the North Central London boroughs. Find out more at: Home | Healthwatch Enfield and read the report: Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Report FINAL.pdf.
Inclusion Barnet takes on two exciting Youth projects in North West and North London
We’ve also taken on Listen to Act's award-winning youth engagement service and its two current projects. Firstly, coordinating the Young People's Advisory Group within the ARC Outreach Alliance programme in North West London, providing young people a space to discuss and influence mental health priorities funded by the Department for Health and Social Care. The second is a GP services project in Enfield funded by City Bridge, focused on making primary care GP services more youth friendly and accessible. More information will be available on our website soon.
Healthwatch Barnet leaves Inclusion Barnet to join Public Voice
Following the Barnet Council tender for the new Healthwatch Barnet contract, from 1 June Healthwatch Barnet have left Inclusion Barnet to join Public Voice after five years with IB. We thank Sarah, Daria and Julia for their huge contribution and wish them well as they continue to work for Healthwatch Barnet under Public Voice.
Job Vacancy: Peer Community Organisation Support Lead
We're looking for someone who understands why it's important to demonstrate that Disabled people can take a leadership role in their communities, who also has a deep understanding of voluntary sector groups. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who would enjoy supporting small voluntary groups to reach their goals, and representing their views and needs to partners.
More information on Peer Community Organisation Support Lead and apply
Healthy Heart
With the end of our Healthwatch Barnet contract last month, we were delighted to welcome our Healthy Heart team returning under the Inclusion Barnet umbrella. Over the past nine months, they’ve reached out to 497 residents offering brief and extended brief interventions and supporting 168 local people during intensive training sessions and workshops. A key feature of the intensive work was that all participants identified the lifestyle changes that were needed to lower high blood pressure.
During this month, you’ll find the team doing Heart Health drop-in sessions at Burnt Oak and Hendon libraries and supporting two Hypertension events with the Zen project, hosted by the Everglades Medical Practice with Social Prescribers. The event dates are 17 June and 1 July (10.00am - 4.00pm). We’ll be bringing you updates on their work each month. Please bear with us as we update our website.
As mentioned above, we said goodbye last month to Sarah, Daria and Julia and thank them for their great contribution. Ed, who since November had worked on comms for Healthwatch Barnet is now a part of the comms team at Inclusion Barnet, including producing this newsletter. Also, this month we welcome Tess Wilderspin to the Campaign for Disability Justice as our Senior Comms 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:
Should “The Network” mental health support service be closed?
The Network, run by Barnet Council, is a support service for people with mental health needs that provides short-term wellbeing support (up to 9 months) for people who are experiencing mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress disorder. Use of the service has dropped by 50% since 2014. Have your say in the Council Consultation – closes 14 July 2025.
Shape how our Council's Planning Authority engages with YOU!
This is our chance to ensure genuine inclusion in the planning decisions that shape our neighbourhoods and our future. Get in early – have your say!
The council has a draft document called the Statement of Community Involvement. This document explains how they will talk to the community about planning. It's now open for your feedback, and this is our perfect chance to make sure that all future planning discussions are accessible for Disabled people.
We’ve drafted a short blog post about important things to think about when you share your views, especially concerning how the council gets input from Disabled people: IB blog post on the Local Planning Authority consultation.
The Annual Disabled Student Survey 2025
This survey is being conducted by Disabled Students UK (DSUK) and has been created by Disabled students for Disabled students.
DSUK’s surveys have a track record of influencing policy. By taking part, you join hundreds of students around the UK in improving Higher Education accessibility.
Students who take part can opt in to a prize draw to win £100.
All survey data will be made anonymous.
Would you like to be involved in research about a wide range of topics and help Disabled consumers in the process?
By joining the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers Panel, you will be playing an important role in working towards a more inclusive future.
Anyone who identifies as being Disabled (including those living with any type of long-term physical or mental health conditions) is eligible to join the panel.
As a member of the panel, you could be involved in a wide range of research including surveys, focus groups, product testing and mystery shopping, in areas including transport, technology, retail, health and wellbeing.
Find out more about the RiDC Panel.
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
Help with online forms at Hendon Library
Come to this drop-in at Hendon Library on Wednesdays from 5.00 - 6.00pm to get help completing online forms, including:
- 60+ Oyster cards
- Older persons freedom passes
- Blue Badge applications
Venue: Hendon Library, The Burroughs, Hendon, London NW4 4BQ
Access information: step-free access
Suitable for adults.
Summer Music Festival
Organised by Age UK Barnet, why not go to this afternoon of live music, delicious food, raffles, tombola, and a selection of stalls? Musical acts include the Italian tenor Yuri Sabatini, the uplifting N12 Community Choir, and timeless classics from Once a Favourite.
Saturday 28 June, 11.00am - 3.00pm
Venue: Ann Owens Centre, Oak Lane, East Finchley N2 8LT.
Access information: step-free access, accessible toilet, gender neutral toilet
£3 entry. All welcome. Any questions, contact Teresa on 07502 989 403 or email teresa.gallagher@ageukbarnet.org.uk
FREE Tea & Coffee Mornings (ages 55+)
Join our libraries for FREE Tea & Coffee Mornings (for ages 55+). Free hot drinks and biscuits in a warm, friendly library space, and 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.
National news - local impact
Access Tips
Warning: This section includes mentions of suicide.
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
At A Doll Like Me, the owner custom-makes every doll to look like the child who will receive it. It was born out of the idea that our unique differences make us beautiful, together with the belief that children need to see themselves in the toys that they play with. Donations ensure that dolls can be provided to families at no charge.
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 workplaces 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.
