Your New Year's resolution could help other disabled people too.
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January 2024 newsletter
Join us in the fight for equality for disabled people (see below).
Your monthly update on Inclusion Barnet services, plus community events and news affecting Disabled people including people with mental health issues and long-term conditions.
Update from our CEO
Dear ,
A very happy new year to all Inclusion Barnet members and welcome to the January edition of our newsletter.
We will have several new members of staff joining in the course of this month, but this time I want to introduce you to Geoff Fimister, our new part time Head of Policy, who will be working alongside the comms and engagement team to make sure that the stories you tell us reach the ears of policy makers.
Geoff has decades of experience in welfare rights and social policy. He won’t be doing casework, but if you want to share an experience which you think we should know about in order to campaign for change, you can email him at geoff@inclusionbarnet.org.uk.
Speaking of campaigning, this is something we will be doing more of going into the spring and summer, to help ensure that disabled people are not forgotten as the cost of living continues to bite. Watch this space for more updates in due course.
In the meantime, it only remains for me to thank you for your support, and to say how much I look forward to continuing to work with you all in 2024.
Our members are the most important part of the organisation, and we are hugely grateful for all your time and engagement. I hope 2024 brings you good things, and thank you again for all you do.
Caroline Collier, CEO, Inclusion Barnet.
Make a New Year's resolution: fight for equality
When coming up with New Year's resolutions, we often focus on what we can do for ourselves or those close to us. But what if your resolution could help many other people too? Well it can, if you make your goal to fight for disability rights.
At Inclusion Barnet, we have many ways for you to get involved, make your voice heard and push for change. You can take part as much or as little as you like.
Here's some of the ways you can get involved as a disabled person:
- Become a member - then join our user voice meetings. Your views will inform our work, and we share them with relevant organisations e.g., the Disability Poverty Support Group or the Barnet Borough Partnership
- Follow us on social media - we share disability news on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter
- Check our newsletters, social media or website for new consultations/campaigns
- Volunteer with us - look out for new opportunities coming soon
- Become a reviewer - Contact us to express your interest in reviewing materials we create, using your lived experience of disability.
You only have to look at the rail ticket office campaign last year to see what a difference it makes when lots of people come together to share their views.
Read some of our staff member's goals below and make your New Year's resolution to get YOUR voice heard too.
Inclusion Barnet News
Save the date for our AGM
Inclusion Barnet's next Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Wednesday 14 March 2024, from 4.30pm - 6pm.
If you’re a member, please save the date and keep an eye out for an invite by email or post.
Closure extended for Touchpoint Benefits Advice
We have had to extend the closure of the Touchpoint Benefits Advice Service until Monday 5 February 2024. However the re-opening of this service is in sight, as we are currently recruiting new staff. Keep an eye out for updates on the web page below and in future Inclusion Barnet newsletters.
In the meantime, we suggest contacting Citizens Advice Barnet or Boost for advice.
Live the life you want - Touchpoint Peer Support
Spent 2023 struggling to access services or resources? Then now is the time to get help from Touchpoint Peer Support. This service run by Inclusion Barnet provides one-to-one support, helping you to access the resources you need to live the life you want. It's for anyone in Barnet who considers themselves disabled.
Contact Touchpoint Peer Support by calling 0203 475 1306 or email touchpoint@inclusionbarnet.org.uk or find out more on our website.
No Vote, No Voice
Make sure you are ready for the 2 May 2024 Mayor of
London and London Assembly elections
The Elections Act (2022) has come into force and has brought with it
significant changes to our voting rights.
We are therefore supporting the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Shout Out UK
(SOUK) who are running phase two of the impartial Voter ID public awareness
campaign. Building on the lessons from phase one, launched in January 2023, they
also continue to increase the broad, pan-London coalition of partners who support
the annual GLA London Voter Registration Week.
The campaign is run in coordination and collaboration with the Electoral
Commission, all London borough electoral services and a broad civil society coalition to address the equalities impact of the Elections Act, especially the introduction of photo Voter IDs.
These are unprecedented changes to civic and democratic rights. So, we need your
support to continue to reach under-registered and under-represented Londoners who might lose their vote and their voice if they are not aware of these changes.
GLA polling shows current awareness levels in London are: one in four Londoners
(24 per cent) are still unaware of the photo Voter ID requirement and only half
(52 per cent) are aware of accepted forms of photo ID. (GLA / YouGov poll,
August - September 2023).
Here is how you can make a difference:
● Make sure you are registered to vote and have an accepted photo Voter ID,
because #NoVoteNoVoice.
● Use the resources from the GLA Democracy Hub to support your community
or spread the word in your wider network.
● Your vote is your voice, so get heard.
For more information and to take action, visit the GLA Democracy hub.
Healthy Heart Update
In December, the Healthy Heart (HH) team attended lots of events, to spread the word about heart health in African, Caribbean, and South Asian communities. One of these was the ‘Living Well event for professionals’ run by Age UK.
They also attended the Faith and Health Network Conference, where they established there is a desire to develop relationships further around faith and health. They passed this on to our Member Development Officer (Faith groups), Sukhjeen Kaur to explore further.
The West Hendon Hub drop ins continued, and members of the team met with the Pan Barnet GP group to encourage more GPs to engage with the HH project.
The Healthy Heart team are now part of Healthwatch Barnet. We're in the process of updating the website to reflect this. From now on, you can read about Healthy Heart in the Healthwatch newsletter.
Annual Member Survey: We have a winner!
Congratulations to Athena, the winner of our prize draw and recipient of a £20 Love 2 Shop voucher!
Everyone who completed our Annual Member Survey 2023 was asked if they'd like to enter our free prize draw and Athena's name was drawn at random on 14 December.
Athena said the news made her day and that she was "delighted to be able to help and willing to participate in (Inclusion Barnet's) surveys and research anytime."
Thank you again to everyone who shared their invaluable feedback on our services. We're busy analysing the results and will share these in next month's newsletter.
Creative writing workshop - South Friern Library
Our staff at South Friern library invite you to come and share your story at monthly creative writing sessions. The first workshop will be on Saturday 27 January 2024.
Find out more and book your place at the link below.
South Friern is one of two libraries run by Inclusion Barnet in conjunction with Barnet Council.
Get to know us
Sarah-Kye Faulkner
Forensic User Voice Officer, Inclusion Unlimited
Sarah-Kye Faulkner (also known as 'SK') is the Forensic User Voice Officer for Inclusion Unlimited, the trading arm of Inclusion Barnet. Here they talk about joining the Inclusion Barnet team and what they bring to the role.
1. How long have you worked at Inclusion Barnet?
I have been working at IB since October 2023.
2. What’s your main focus in your role?
I am working with North London Forensics Consortium (NLFC) supporting the Patient Council to provide feedback to the mental health trusts, to create positive change. I help experts by experience to participate in the commissioning cycle.
3. How does having lived experience impact your role?
I combine my lived experience of chronic illness, neurodivergence and mental health issues with over 25 years working with multiply marginalised communities (people who belong to more than one marginalised group). I feel well-placed to understand and connect with others and believe that those with lived experience provide insight that can enhance understanding and improve services.
4. What’s the best thing about working at Inclusion Barnet?
I value the opportunity to work with other people who have a deeper understanding of what it is to be multiply marginalised. Staff members are not only accepted but also encouraged to bring their whole selves to work.
5. What’s your favourite way to spend time when you’re not working?
I enjoy alternative culture, gaming, using virtual reality headsets, reading, photography, producing music, attending gigs, DIY, graphic novels, street art, travel, spending time with friends, and mountain biking when health allows.
Leavers and starters
Leavers
No leavers this month but our organisation continues to expand with two new members of staff.
Starters
We welcome Briony Banks as our new Peer Coproduction and Engagement Lead in Inclusion Unlimited, the trading arm of Inclusion Barnet, and also Geoff Fimister as the new Head of Policy in our Senior Management Team.
Consultations and campaigns
Barnet Council budget consultation
Barnet Council want your views on their latest budget proposals for 2024/25, including proposals to increase council tax and apply an Adult Social Care Precept to help pay for adult social care. Find out more and share your views on the Engage Barnet website.
Make Care Fair campaign
Inclusion London says the government's proposals to reform the social care system discriminate against the poorest disabled people. Join their campaign Make Care Fair (#MakeCareFair) by sharing your experiences of paying for care on social media. More details on their website.
Waking night support consultation
Barnet Council is proposing to end funding for Waking Night Support at three sheltered housing schemes: Deborah Lodge, Gadsbury Close and Speedwell House. First they want to hear the views of the tenants of these schemes, their families and support networks. Consultation closes on 19 January 2024.
Brent Cross parking consultation extension
Following feedback from the first consultation early in 2023, Barnet Council have extended the Experimental Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in Brent Cross Cricklewood to monitor the changes for longer. Share your views by 24 April 2024.
Carer engagement survey
Barnet Carers and the London Borough of Barnet have created a survey, to get a better understanding of the issues carers face, so they can develop and improve services.
Barnet community news/events
Leisure Centre accredited as Dementia Friendly
Burnt Oak Leisure Centre in Barnet has been officially accredited as a Dementia Friendly Venue. If you need support, just speak to a member of staff.
New community cafe for Grahame Park
Following consultation with over 100 residents, Colindale Community Trust are going to turn Unit 11, The Concourse at Grahame Park into an accessible community cafe. It'll be open daytime and evening. Building work is scheduled to begin March 2024.
New express bus services for Barnet
The latest additions to the Superloop network are 2 express bus services in Barnet. The SL10 between Harrow and North Finchley, and the SL1 between North Finchley and Walthamstow Central.
Map for Warm Spaces in Barnet
Warm Spaces are welcoming places provided by local organisations, for residents to stay warm and engage with others. Barnet Council has a map and a list of Warm Spaces on their website.
Be an inclusion champion
Plan accessible journeys in London with TfL Go app
Transport for London's Go app shows accessible routes between stations, bus stops, addresses or postcodes. You can set the time you want to travel and whether you want the fastest route, fewest changes, or least walking involved.
Using step-free mode includes information on toilet locations, platform access and live lift status.
Tip of the month: Use the headings setting
Twitter/X account Accessibility Awareness (@A11yAwareness) suggests that when creating a document in Word or Google docs, you should use the headings setting rather than making titles bigger or bolder paragraph text. This is because screen readers can't identify headings if you just change the paragraph text.
To use the headings setting, select the text you want to make into a heading, put your cursor on 'Home' and then 'Styles'. Then select the heading you want (hover over each one to see what it'll look like).
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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.
Share YOUR lived experience:
become a member of Inclusion Barnet
Our Services
Did you know we run libraries, Barnet Voice for Mental Health, community organisation support, and more? Find all our services and the other newsletters you can subscribe to, below.
