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July 2026 newsletter
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Welcome to the July edition of the Inclusion Barnet member newsletter!
It's full of information on developments at Inclusion Barnet, online resources, community events, access tips and ways to be heard. You'll also find some of the top 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
Happy Disability Pride month!
Disability Pride happens every July. It’s about Disabled people celebrating being who we are, the things we’ve achieved, and the community we’ve created.
It’s a space to renew our dedication to making a world where Disabled people are included and considered in everyday life, including in our Borough and in national politics.
Read on to find out how to be part of that movement. This month you can influence and give feedback on new NHS systems in north London, apply to join the Barnet Council Involvement Board to give your experience of adult social care, and learn how your words have been telling MPs why flexible, remote and hybrid options matter to many Disabled people who want to work.
Let us know how you’ll be celebrating this month,
Cat Whitehouse, Campaign Manager
Campaign for Disability Justice update
We’ve been making recommendations to a House of Commons committee, telling them what Disabled people need at work, and the barriers that block us from working. Thank you to the 70 Disabled people and carers who gave their insights and experiences to help with this, including 6 Inclusion Barnet User Voice attendees. We released a cartoon about our frustration on this issue – have a read if you want a giggle: see our latest cartoon.
Touchpoint Peer Support reopens
We are delighted to announce that Touchpoint Peer Support has reopened to new referrals! If you are Disabled and finding it hard to access the support or resources you need to live the life you want to live, it offers one-to-one support from a Disabled member of the Touchpoint team to help you achieve your individual goals.
Thank you to everyone who came to the User Voice meeting in June, and shared opinions on Disabled people and flexible work for the government consultation. The next meeting will be on Teams as requested, and will include:
- An update on actions you requested last time
- A chance to raise any local issues
- A guest speaker from the NHS about the changes to local health services (tbc)
There’ll also be opportunities to meet other local Disabled people and carers, and to raise any issues you’d like Inclusion Barnet to work on.
Date: Thursday 23 July 2026, 5-6pm
Location: Online on teams
Book your place via Eventbrite
A request from a User Voice member: If you’ve experienced recent issues with local wheelchair services or accessibility equipment supplies, please let us know at uservoice@inclusionbarnet.org.uk
Healthwatch Enfield Publishes 2025–26 Annual Report
Healthwatch Enfield is pleased to announce the publication of its 2025–26 Annual Report, celebrating another year of making a positive difference for Enfield residents.
Over the past year, the team helped tackle GP registration barriers for people experiencing homelessness, produced a new mental health guide, and published seven reports highlighting improvements people want to see in health and social care. In total, Healthwatch Enfield reached 46,878 people, with 1,182 residents sharing their experiences and almost 31,000 website page views. The report Understanding Type 2 Diabetes in Enfield proved especially popular, shining a light on residents' experiences and opportunities to improve local support.
A special thank you to the dedication of 22 volunteers, whose 320 hours of service, alongside staff and partners, helped create lasting impact across the borough. Great work everyone!
Healthy Heart supports Diabetes Awareness Week
Healthy Heart was delighted to support Diabetes Awareness Week last month by taking part in community events organised to promote better health and diabetes awareness. The team attended Central London Community Healthcare’s Diabetes Awareness event at the Old Library in Grahame Park, delivering seven interventions. The following day, at the Barnet Asian Women’s Organisation’s Diabetes Awareness event, Healthy Heart provided 23 interventions. These activities helped local residents access valuable health information, advice and support for maintaining heart health and reducing the risk of diabetes-related complications. Exxcellent work Healthy Heart team!
No starters or leavers this month.
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.
Your words can shape what happens in Barnet. It’s surprising, but some local consultations get as few as 14 responses*. Low numbers like these mean every voice counts
*For example: Barnet Council's proposed Fees and Charges 2024-25 for services, which got 14 online responses.
Here are opportunities to get involved in this month:
Let’s talk: Have your say on how local people can shape NHS decisions
Earlier this year, North West London and North Central London ICBs merged to become NHS West and North London. Take their survey to help improve how they listen to, involve and act on feedback on NHS care. Let's make sure the NHS fully responds to the views and needs of Disabled people.
Closes 26 July
Join the Barnet Council Involvement Board
Barnet Council is looking for individuals with experience of adult social care in Barnet to join the Involvement Board.
The Involvement Board meets up 4 times a year to look at adult social care engagement and coproduction work and how Barnet Council are working with residents and carers. Let's make sure Disabled people's views are heard in social care provision.
Involvement Board representatives can claim Reward and Recognition vouchers for attending meetings
The Department for Business and Trade is assessing what further support is needed to help unpaid carers balance work with their caring responsibilities, and is reviewing the employment rights available to parents who have a seriously ill child. Vital that the views of Disabled carers and parents are taken on board.
Give your feedback:-
Email:
unpaidcarers@businessandtrade.gov.uk
Write to:
Unpaid Carers Policy Team, Employment Rights Directorate
Department for Business and Trade
Old Admiralty Building
Admiralty Place
London
SW1A 2DY
Closes 1 September 2026
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
Local and London news and events
Direct Payments Network Online Meeting
Are you a Barnet resident who uses Direct Payments? Join the Direct Payments Network meeting, an informal space where you can network with other residents who use Direct Payments and meet members of the Direct Payments Team in Barnet.
- Date: Thursday 9th July
- Time: 15.30 - 16.30
- Location: online
If you would like to attend, please email engage.adults@barnet.gov.uk with your name and postcode, and any access needs.
West & North London Residents’ Forum – July 2026
Attend the online Residents’ Forum to hear about local NHS plans and share your views on future health and care services.
Date: Thursday 9th July
Time: 18.00 - 19:30
Location: online
Grief Café - support and connection for bereaved people
North London Hospice offers the following welcoming spaces where you can have a cup of tea, a biscuit and share your thoughts and feelings.
- Enfield Town Library, 66 Church Street, Enfield, EN2 6AX. Second Tuesday of every month, 10am to 12pm. Location on Google Maps.
- South Friern Library, Colney Hatch Lane, Barnet, N10 1HD. Second Thursday of every month, 11am to 1pm. Location on Google Maps.
- Julius Newman House, Woodside Park Road, Finchley, N12 8RP. Third Friday of every month, 10:30am to 12pm. Location on Google Maps.
- Living Well Centre, First Floor, The Mall Wood Green, 159 High Road, Wood Green, N22 6YQ. Fourth Wednesday of every month, 12pm to 1:30pm. Location on Google Maps.
Email: nlhbereavement@northlondonhospice.co.uk
Telephone: 0800 368 7848
Online and national resources
Carers UK helpline
Carers UK provides information and guidance to unpaid carers.
Their telephone helpline is available on 0808 808 7777 from Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm (including Bank Holidays).
If you have a more complex query or would like more detailed guidance, their email Helpline is also available: advice@carersuk.org.
A website where you can find and provide Disabled access information for all types of venues.
National news - local impact
Four-day week could transform employment access and inclusion for Disabled workers (from Disability Rights UK)
Appeal for disability arts memories to help preserve history of a ‘cultural phenomenon’ (from Disability News Service)
'Our inclusive choir gives us freedom to be ourselves' (from BBC)
Access Tips
Warning: This section includes mentions of suicide.
Lucid Read is a free Chrome extension providing 35+ tools for dyslexia, ADHD, and visual stress, including typography, colour overlays, text-to-speech, dictionary, bilingual support, and classroom tools.
Emergency video relay service for Deaf people to obtain help in an emergency using BSL.
Free app designed to provide evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tools for managing anxiety, stress, and panic.
An app designed to help neurodivergent people (especially autistic individuals and families) discover and rate sensory-friendly, inclusive places around the world.
A free app for finding and marking wheelchair accessible places.
Be My Eyes connects blind or low vision users who want assistance, with volunteers and companies across the world, through live video and AI.
Seeing AI is a free app that narrates the world around you. Designed with and for the blind and low vision community, this ongoing research project harnesses the power of AI to open up the visual world. Seeing AI assists with daily tasks from reading, to describing photos, to identifying products, and more.
This free app helps Disabled people find accessible places. Wherever you're going, get accessibility information on your smartphone.
British Transport Police 61016 texting service
A non-emergency texting service for contacting the British Transport Police discreetly. You can text 61016 when:
- You want to tell BTP about an incident that has already happened
- You want to tell BTP about issues affecting your rail journey or your local station
- You have a general police enquiry
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
Making emergency evacuation accessible for Disabled people
Accessibility and meeting the needs of Disabled people is a crucial part of an inclusive society. In emergencies this can be a matter of life and death. Fires, accidents, or power failures, combined with barriers like stairs, poor communication, or a lack of assistance can put Disabled people at greater risk. Let's help raise awareness of this and encourage the Government, businesses, schools, and landlords to improve evacuation procedures.
Everyone can get involved by signing petitions, contacting local councillors or Members of Parliament, supporting disability rights organisations, and sharing information on social media. People can also ask schools, workplaces, and public buildings to provide accessible evacuation plans, regular emergency drills, and suitable equipment such as evacuation chairs. Inclusion London's Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans is an excellent resource for this.
Inclusive planning saves lives and promotes equality for all!
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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.
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We're calling on the Government to work with organisations led by Disabled people to make employment easier to access and to improve social security so that everyone can live a decent life, whether they’re in work or not.
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