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May 2025 newsletter
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Welcome to the May 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
You might notice this newsletter is landing in your inbox a little later than usual this month. That’s because we’ve been focussed on responding to the Government’s Green Paper on the proposed cuts and changes to benefits. It’s a crucial issue and we’ve now submitted our initial response on the consultation and we’re inviting you to sign an open letter in support.
The letter calls for Disabled people to be properly involved in reviews of important systems, like PIP, that impact us. Every signature makes our voice louder, so please share with your networks too.
On a more local note, our CEO, Caroline Collier recently met with Business Group Leaders in the borough to deliver a speech on disability employment, including how and why it’s so important and practical steps businesses can take to be more inclusive. This work ties into one of the three main strands of our Campaign aims – #Opportunity. The Government must go beyond simply providing training support for Disabled people – they must do much more to make the job market more accessible in the first place.
Finally, we are delighted to welcome Healthwatch Enfield to Inclusion Barnet, more on this in the next issue.
Geoff Fimister,
Head of Policy, Inclusion Barnet
This month, we welcomed the Healthwatch Enfield team: Michelle, Alex, Farheen, Stefanie and Holly.
We were sad to say goodbye to Laura, who has worked on a number of project including our TouchPoint service; Sarah-Kye Faulkner, from Inclusion Unlimited; Nicole, TouchPoint Service Administrator; and Bryn Phillips, Community Organisation Support Manager (part of Barnet Together).
Our Campaign for Disability Justice has submitted a response to the Green Paper: Pathways to Work and you’re invited to sign our open letter in support.
We continue to stand in solidarity with all DPOs, charities and organisations in their calls against benefit cuts and harmful policies. Our Campaign for Disability Justice is also looking ahead to how Disabled voices can, and must, be included in Government conversations and reviews of key services, systems and policies that impact them.
It’s time for inclusion!
We’re calling on the Government to fully involved Disabled people in reviews of the Work Capability Assessment, Personal Independence Payment assessments, Safeguarding, employer & employee support and Access to Work.
Please sign our open letter to the Government to support our response.
You can find out more and sign their open letter on the campaign website.
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:
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
Community Focus Inclusive Arts Centre offers creative and wellbeing courses for Disabled and autistic people.
Friary House, Friary Park
Friary Road
Friern Barnet Lane
London, N20 0NR
020 3743 2326
admin@communityfocus.co.uk
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.
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
Government launches new PIP assessment review
Train station 'Welcome Points' for Disabled passengers being trialled
London theatre to host installation that exposes how DWP austerity measures led to countless deaths
Disabled activists gate-crash DWP event and send message to ministers: ‘Your consultation is a sham’
Access Tips
Warning: This section includes mentions of suicide.
Free online Disability and Climate talks
The University of Exeter are holding two talks (online on Zoom) for people who are interested in reflecting on and/or sharing experiences around disability and the climate crisis.
- Tuesday 20 May, 7pm to 8:30pm
- Thursday 10 July, 8:30am to 10am
Accessibility: There will be BSL interpretation and live captions during both events. For accessibility questions, please email Sarah.Bell@exeter.ac.uk.
Sign up for Disability and Climate online talks
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
Take care of your wellbeing when applying for PIP
Claiming PIP can be tough. As part of their PIP Helper tool, Turn2us have included a toolkit for managing your mental wellbeing when you apply, including mental health and stress reduction strategies.
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.
