Accessibility maps, free health screenings, and our new blog series!
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October 2023 newsletter
Image by Freepik
Your monthly update on Inclusion Barnet services, plus community events and news affecting Disabled people including mental health issues and long-term conditions.
Update from our CEO
Welcome to the October newsletter. There’s lots to read about this month, and reviewing it always reminds me of the huge amount of different activities we get involved in or provide feedback on. Sometimes people wonder why we do the different things we do, such as the Cornerstone project (see below) about language, attitudes, and strategic communications. Why don’t we just focus on frontline services?
I was reminded of why learning how to write persuasively was so important this week, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that this government is looking once again at ways to get more people into work. Supporting people into work is a great objective, but never once did he mention that some people are really too unwell to work, or that employers and wider society too often create real barriers for disabled people (including
people with mental health issues and long term conditions) who want to re-enter the workplace. It’s very much a long term project, but we want to learn to communicate better about the issues that affect disabled people’s lives, and help policymakers to provide kinder, more effective forms of support for disabled people – whatever their needs or aspirations. We won’t create change tomorrow, but hopefully one day we can influence more people to want a stronger safety net for all.
Caroline Collier, CEO, Inclusion Barnet.
Inclusion Barnet News
Healthy Heart update
Riffat and Salna with our new flyers
The work of the Healthy Heart team is back in full swing after the Summer break. This includes the two weekly sessions; Tuesday afternoons are drop-in sessions at Grahame Park and Wednesdays are pre-planned and take place at the Centre of Excellence.
We're pleased to announce that the team have also produced the Healthy Heart information leaflet in two new languages: Gujarat and Somali. They'll be distributing from next week.
Our User Voice meeting went with a swing!
We grateful to everyone who was able to join us at our User Voice meeting last month. A total of 19 people joined us in person and online to share their views about the work we do and discuss our priorities. We had some fantastic feedback from the group and ideas how to improve future meetings.
Our next meeting is on 30th November, please save the date in your diary – details will be in our next newsletter. If you are already a member, we will email details to you directly.
If you'd like to find out more about the User Voice project and how you can become a member, see the link below or contact Edward Phoenix by email: edwardp@inclusionbarnet.org.uk, phone or text: 07719105107.
Coaching circles for User Voice members
Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust are offering coaching circles to Inclusion Barnet members for our User Voice project. These sessions will involve members bringing challenges that they are facing, and then a professional from the trust and a fellow User Voice representative will help them find solutions.
We’d like to hear from you if you think you might be interested in being involved in these sessions. If there is enough interest we will consider going ahead and setting them up. Please contact Edward Phoenix by email: edwardp@inclusionbarnet.org.uk, phone or text: 07719105107.
Voter rights are changing
This year the law around voting in UK parliamentary elections, local elections, and the elections for Mayor of London and London Assembly has changed.
The biggest change to the way we vote is the requirement of acceptable photo ID to vote.
From May 2023, voters will be required to present photo identification to vote in elections and only certain forms of photo ID can be used to vote. You can still vote by post without using a photo ID, however.
Between now and February 2024 we will be holding a number of free sessions in Barnet to help raise awareness of this new voting requirement.
We will be able to:
- Explain the changes
- Identify if your current photo ID is acceptable to vote
- Help you apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate or other forms of approved photo ID
- Answer any questions about the changes to election law
Please look out for news about these sessions and register to attend if you can.
New blog series: Being seen
1: Wheelchair users
Image by Macrovector on Freepik
Introducing our new long read blog series: ‘Being Seen’!
For this series, staff at Inclusion Barnet get together to discuss their lived experiences of being disabled. The aim is to provide insight into the barriers they face, share tips with other people living with similar challenges, and suggest ways that everyone can be more effective allies in the fight for equality.
In the first blog in our series, staff who are wheelchair users share their experiences and advice, including proposals on how society could be more inclusive.
Talking about disability
We were delighted to be awarded funding from the City Bridge Foundation Cornerstone Fund in April 2022 to help us find better ways of talking about disability. Since then, we have carried out research to explore the attitudes that people have towards disability and are now creating new ways of talking about ourselves and our organisations. Our aim is to help change the way people think about disability so that more people feel motivated to help make society more inclusive and accessible. We also want disabled and non-disabled people to know more about Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPOs) and our role in helping create more equal communities.
Black History Month
Image by Freepik
October is Black History Month and this year's theme is 'Celebrating our sisters'. It's a particularly poignant year as 2023 marks 75 years since the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush and it's ten years since the founding of the Black Lives Matter movement.
There are lots of events taking place in Barnet to celebrate which you can find on the Barnet Council Engagement page in the blue button link below. Our Healthy Heart team will be at quite a few of these. At the moment they have confirmed they're hoping to attend at the following events so please look out for them and stop for a chat if you are there.
Age UK Barnet - A celebration of black culture with Baroness Lola Young, Monday 9 October, 2-4pm Ann Owens Centre, Oak Lane, East Finchley, N2 8LT
BACA Windrush Party, Tuesday 17 October 11am - 3pm, Algernon Road, NW4 3TA
West Hendon Arts and Culture Society, Wednesday 18 October, 5.30 - 8.00pm, West Hendon Community Hub, Gadwall House, Perryfield Way, NW9 7DZ
- 'Know the Past Shape the future' on 21 October, 1-8pm, at One Stop Shop, The Old Library, The Concourse, Grahame Park, London NW9 5XA.
- Barnet Multi Faith Forum - Black History Event - date to be confirmed
- Celebrate African Culture and Tradition, African Cultural Association Satruday 28 October 12.30 to 4.30pm, Colindale Library, 7 Bristol Ave, NW9 4BR
DDPO Forum England National Conference
We were pleased to join online with this year's DDPO Forum England National Conference in Manchester. It was attended by representatives from over 115 DDPOs (Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations), in England.
The day-long event included debate, planning and networking. There were several interesting speakers remind us of the value of the work we do in making change happen and the patience and tenacity needed to keep going with it.
Leavers and starters
Leavers
This month we say a fond farewell to four members of staff who are moving on to new ventures. Debbie Bezalel, our Head of Community Services, Jon Barlett, our Healthwatch Manager, Caitie Fisher, our Comms Officer for Organisation Support, and Becky Brice, our Touchpoint Peer Welfare and Benefits Adviser. We thank them all for all the amazing work they've done while they have been with us and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.
Starters
We welcome Sukhjeen Kaur as one of our new Member Development Officers for our Organisational Support Team; and Sarah-Kye to deliver on our Forensics contract for Inclusion Unlimited.
You may also have seen recent advertisements for several vacancies across various new roles at Inclusion Barnet. We can't say anything just yet while we finalised all the paperwork, but we can say that we interviewed some fantastic candidates and can't wait to introduce you to other new staff in the coming weeks.
Consultations and campaigns
Have your say: location for CPT (Changing Place Toilet)
Barnet Council needs your help to choose between two potential locations for a disability friendly toilet in either Friary Park (Friern Barnet) or Oakhill Park (East Barnet).
Everyone should be able to use a toilet with dignity and Changing Place Toilets (CPTs) provide the necessary equipment or space so that this can happen.
Complete the survey below to share your views.
Have your say: Wellbeing Services survey
Barnet Council is also looking for your opinions on their Wellbeing Services. The services support emotional wellbeing and mental health.
If you have used these services and would like to share your views, you can complete their short survey below.
Know your rights: disability protestors
Protesting as a disabled person can be challenging and it's important to know your legal rights first. As you're probably aware, the law for all protestors has changed recently and some things which were previously okay have now become arrestable offences.
Disability Rights UK and Liberty are running a free, online event where you can get informed. It takes place on 17 October at 6pm-7.30pm. Book your free ticket on Eventbrite at the link below.
Ticket office closures - latest
If you missed the chance to respond on the Ticket Office Closure consultation, there's still time to sign the petition. This states that the government should require train operators to keep ticket offices and platform staff at train stations.
The petition has already reached over 100,00 signatures, so it will be debated in parliament, but every signature added can help to reinforce the message that the train operators must not move or cut staff.
You have until 18th October to sign it.
Consultation on Work Capability Assessments
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the work capability assessment. It includes changes to support more disabled people to work from home but wouldn't affect people with severe learning difficulties or those at the end of their life.
However, there is serious concern that the changes could lead to people being forced to work when they are not well enough, and result in those who don't fit specific criteria losing the benefits they need.
The government says it is keen to hear the views of disabled people. You can read the consultation and share your views at the link below.
Share your experience with Covid-19 Inquiry
The UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry would like your help to 'understand and assess the full picture of how the pandemic impacted lives'. As part of their initiative called 'Every Story Matters' they are keen to hear about each person's individual experience.
Their website contains information on why they want people to share their stories and what will happen to the details you provide. Information in different formats and support to share your story are available on the website below.
Proposed changes to eye (ophthalmology) surgery
Proposed changes to eye (ophthalmology) surgery in North Central London (NCL)
The NHS is considering changes to eye surgery in NCL, aiming to increase the number of procedures and reduce wait times for sight-saving surgery by up to four weeks for some patients.
Share your views on these proposals via their online survey at nclhealthandcare.org.uk/eyesurgery
Deadline is October 16, 2023.
Alternatively you can:
- Email nclicb.surgicalhubs@nhs.net
- Write to Freepost SURGERY (no need for a stamp or postcode)
- Phone 020 4518 7132
Barnet community news/events
Temporary change to opening hours for Walk-in Centres
Edgware Community Hospital and Finchley Memorial Hospital walk-in centres have changed their opening hours until 31 March 2024.
They are both open from 8am - 8pm every day. Last patient booking at 7pm.
These centres are for urgent treatment for minor injuries and illness. Further details are on their website or you can call 111 for advice.
Free community health screenings
The Community Health Screening service is a free service for anyone over the age of 40 who lives, works or studies in Barnet. You can book a screening online or drop-in on the day (drop-in spaces are limited), to various venues in Barnet.
Screening takes about 20 minutes and involves checking things like blood pressure, cholesterol levels and your BMI. You'll be offered free advice and signposting to other useful information.
New community wellbeing support café
Colindale Communities Trust are running a Community Wellbeing Support Cafe on Thursdays at The Old Library on the Concourse, NW9 5XA. Here you can access one-to-one support, group workshops or training with trained Mental Health Wellbeing Empowerment Workers.
To find out more, just drop in on Thursday afternoons or call 020 8200 3014.
For immediate emotional support and enquiries, call 020 8906 7503.
Opportunity to join research study
Do you want to be part of a research project that's trying to discover a better way to help people who are feeling depressed and lonely?
UCL (University College London) are looking for volunteers to participate in their study about treatment resistant depression. One of the clinical trials is for those being treated at the Barnet, Enfield Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust.
Half of the volunteers will receive support from a Community Navigator, while the other half will continue with their usual care. The study is open only to clients currently participating mental health services. You can join the study via a referral from your clinician, or by contacting the research team.
If you're interested, please reach out to them for more information.
Contact their study researcher Gamze Evlat, gamze.evlat2@candi.nhs.uk Phone/text: 07510 239172 who can answer any questions you have. Or
Contact: Dr Maev Conneeely m.conneely@ucl.ac.uk”
Barnet hosts accessible Pride in the Park
Barnet's first 'Pride in the Park' event this Summer was a great success. Over 500 people attended the celebration which included music, storytelling, poetry and a range of community organisations' stalls.
Due to sponsorship from BKL, the organisers were able to ensure that the event was accessible, through the provision of features such as accessible toilets, BSL interpreters and trackways. Plus volunteers were on hand to support anyone feeling overwhelmed or requiring other assistance.
Barnet Pride in the Park was hosted by Inkluder with support from Barnet Council, Middlesex University and Barnet Refugee Welcome Board.
Be an inclusion champion
Google Maps + Wheel Map
In the first in our blog series 'Being Seen', we discuss the barriers faced by wheelchair users. Two actions that anyone can take to help remove these barriers are to use tools such as Wheelmap and Google Maps for accessibility.
Wheelmap is an online map for finding wheelchair accessible places. Anyone can mark places using a traffic light system. Green means fully accessible, orange partially and red not accessible at all for wheelchair users.
Google maps has an 'Accessible Places' feature which displays wheelchair accessibility more clearly. It can indicate things like whether the entrance, seating or toilets are accessible and if someone confirms that they're not, it will show this too.
If both disabled and non-disabled people use these features, the information on accessibility can be greatly increased and it may put pressure on inaccessible places to make positive change.
Tip of the month: share the agenda
Some people really appreciate an agenda before meeting to help with planning, managing expectations and anxieties about what is to be discussed.
Even if you can only give a brief outline of key topics this can be really helpful to lots of people, so it's good practice to include this in your preparation where possible.
Work/Volunteer with us
Volunteer at South Friern or New Barnet Library
Interested in volunteering with us?
We still have vacancies for volunteers at New Barnet and South Friern Libraries. You’d be working with our managers, who would welcome you and show you the ropes. We especially need help for Saturday mornings at New Barnet (9am-12pm) but other shifts are available too.
The libraries are both on the ground floor, accessible for wheelchair users and have an accessible ground floor toilet. The libraries are co-run by Inclusion Barnet and Barnet Council.
For more details, email nick@inclusionbarnet.org.uk, phone or text: 07732 901 129, or look at our dedicated web page below.
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