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Local Update, 13 April 2026
Barnet Voice for Mental Health
020 3475 1314
bvmh@inclusionbarnet.org.uk
Welcome to our weekly newsletter about mental health services and support available in Barnet and beyond. Also bringing you updates on Inclusion Barnet mental health news. Produced by Ed Peston, Communications Assistant.
Inclusion Barnet news and events
What's at stake in the PIP review – and why your voice matters
Inclusion Barnet invites you to our next User Voice meeting, where we’ll be talking about the Government’s Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the their “call for evidence” of people’s experiences.
Friday, 24 April, 1.30–3.00pm (online via Zoom)
Booking is essential: email our team at uservoice@inclusionbarnet.org.uk and we will send you the Zoom link - and don’t forget to include any access requirements!
Some members have told us they’re worried about what the PIP review could mean. Others have said they’ve hardly heard about it at all. This meeting will provide a breakdown of what the PIP review is about, why it matters and what it means for Disabled people. We’ll also share suggestions and prompts on how you can respond to the Government survey.
Events and news from the web
Barnet Service User and Carer Forum
Date: Wednesday 15th April 2026
(Runs on the third Wednesday of every month)
Time: 14:00 –15:30
Venue:
In person at Finchley Memorial Hospital. Granville Road London N12 OJE
Ground Floor past the reception desk; glass fronted doors on your right.
(Please be aware that this is a food and drink free zone)
or
Online via Microsoft Teams, join by clicking the link or entering the details below.
MS Teams link is also available on the NLFT trust website.
Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 353 807 566 665 3
Passcode: Rw9ER7zr
Dial in by phone
+44 20 3321 5208,,371942378# United Kingdom, City of London
Phone conference ID: 371 942 378#
The April speaker will be Martine Drake, Wellbeing & Learning Activities Manager within Mind in Enfield & Barnet (MiEB). Martine will provide an update and share information around the running of MiEB courses and workshops under the title of ‘Recovery College’ which have run for a number of years. Martine will present the current MiEB offer, how people can access it, but also discuss the strengths and some aspirations for future development.
Keep your marbles mental health support group (online group from Keep your marbles), Thursday 16 April, 7.00 - 8.30pm
Online support group to boost your mental health.
The wellbeing series for actors and stage management professionals (online session from British Association for Performing Arts Medicine), Monday 13 April, 12.00 - 1.15pm
Mental health and wellbeing support workshop free for actors and stage management professionals
Book The wellbeing series for actors and stage management professionals
Healthy lifestyle perinatal programme (online group from Neighbourhood Doulas), Monday 13 April, 10.30am - 12.00pm
Programme to improve physical and mental health during pregnancy
Mindfulness for analytical types (online group from Anita Kishore), Thursday 16 April, 5.30 - 6.00pm
Mindfulness group with busy individuals in mind.
Apply to join the adult social care Involvement Board
Barnet Council are inviting Disabled people in Barnet to join the adult social care Involvement Board. The Involvement Board meets up to 4 times a year to look at adult social care engagement and coproduction work and how the council are working with residents and carers. Reward and Recognition vouchers are available for attending meetings. Apply using this form. For help with the form or or more information please email them directly at engage.adults@barnet.gov.uk or call 020 8359 3723.
Clarity and calm journaling circle (online group from Sue Richards), Tuesdays 8.00 - 9.00pm
Weekly journaling circle for women
Mindfulness based cancer support group (online group from Holo Health), Saturdays, 7.00 - 8.30pm
Free group sessions aiming to reduce stress, improve quality of life, and support recovery in cancer, led by an Oncology Nurse Specialist.
Binge eating and bulimia recovery - women support group (online group from Annabelle Klein), Wednesday 15 April, 5.30 - 6.30pm
Support group for healing from binge eating and bulimia
Book Binge eating and bulimia recovery - women support group
Got a relevant event to share in this newsletter?
Let us know by emailing the details to bvmh@inclusionbarnet.org.uk
Podcasts
Neurodivergence and mental health podcast (from Sally Nilsson)
Listen to life stories about neurodivergent people
The wellness scoop podcast (from the wellness scoop)
The latest wellness news, expert advice and recommendations
Articles
Why emotional resilience should be at the heart of climate change education (from the Conversation)
The mental health effects of climate change are receiving growing attention, including how children and young people are uniquely affected.
Read Why emotional resilience should be at the heart of climate change education
Social prescribing 'has changed my life' (from the BBC)
Andy Hughes, from Nuneaton, says social prescribing has "changed his life" after he found himself in a mental health crisis 18 months ago.
How to stop procrastination (from the BBC)
If procrastination is so harmful then why do we do it?
Mental Health Foundation stories
These stories help people to understand the importance of looking after their mental health and give them a reason to talk more openly about their struggles and the road to recovery.
Regular Events on the Web
Online wellbeing workshops from Mid West Aries
Offering a range of free courses online via Zoom. Anyone over the age of 18 with an interest in mental health and well-being can sign up for the courses.
International wellbeing support group (From Rain on Me), Monday 20 April, 6.00pm
A free, international safe space to vent and grow with people who understand and accept you.
Regular Events in Barnet
Barnet Friends
Barnet Friends is a free telephone befriending service under the charity, CB Plus. Whether you want someone to talk to, or need some extra motivation to access local wellbeing activities, Barnet Friends can provide a listening ear.
They can support adults aged 18-55 who either live, work or study in Barnet. Their friendly and non-judgemental volunteers can call you once per week for 6-12 months. Their service aims to:
- Reduce feelings of loneliness
- Connect you to local services
- Reduce social isolation
- Provide emotional support
- Empower you to connect with the community
Over the last year they supported 108 people, and matched 26 new clients to their wonderful volunteers. Their personable and empathetic volunteers also carried out just under 600 hours of befriending calls on the phone!
If you are experiencing loneliness now, don't delay; sign up today! You can self refer here. They accept self referrals, as well as referrals through local charities and Social Prescribing Link Workers.
You can also reach them by telephone on 0208 016 0016
Email: befriending@cbplus.org.uk
Client testimonials:
‘Barnet Befriending is a blessing to me. I am very grateful to have been matched with a befriender who is genuinely kind, easy to talk to, supportive and trustworthy. Thank you for giving me so much comfort that I do not need to suffer in silence or do it alone. I will always be grateful.’
‘I will give you 5 stars. Your organisation is very helpful. Also, the volunteer is a very professional man. He helped a lot.’
Barnet Depression Alliance Peer Support Group
A local self-help group for people suffering from depression or depression with anxiety.
Meets twice a month – on a Tuesday evening in North Finchley and on a Monday evening online via Zoom. The group also runs social events throughout the year.
Address: North Finchley
Phone: 0754 118 7907
Email: barnet.depressionalliance@gmail.com
Website: http://www.barnetdepressionalliance.org/
For more details of times and venue please telephone or email
Building Friendship
Building Friendship is a free weekly drop in every Friday for those with mental health difficulties.
Meet at East Barnet Baptist Church hall, EN4 8PS. Come along for a cup of coffee and a friendly chat between 10am and 12noon.
For more information email: buildingfriendship@gmail.com. Or leave a message with your name and contact number on 020 8449 5320.
Sanctuary in Barnet (from Mind in Enfield and Barnet)
Sanctuary in Barnet is a short-term crisis intervention and prevention service. They are open every day of the year, 4:30pm-10pm weekdays and 12-6pm weekends. They act as an A&E and Emergency services alternative, providing support to individuals in the Barnet Borough aged 18+.
Andy's Man Club in Barnet, Every Monday at the Meritage Centre, 7.00 - 9.00pm
Andy's Man Club run talking groups for men who have either been through a storm, are currently going through a storm, have a storm brewing in life or just want to meet a good group of people with the aim of improving one another. No referral, no registration and no charge. Even the brew and biscuits are free!
The Meritage Centre,
Church End,
London
NW4 4JT
Meridian Wellbeing in Barnet
A range of events and activities in Barnet and online including Barnet Wellbeing Hub, Barnet IAPT, Wellbeing Cafe, Wellbeing Workshops, Chinese Wellbeing Services, Supportive Online Communities
More information about Meridian Wellbeing events and activities
Barnet Carers
Barnet Carers provides support and information for unpaid, informal, carers across the London Borough of Barnet. Includes yoga, meditation and mindfulness.
Building Friendship
Building Friendship is a free weekly drop in every Friday for those with mental health difficulties.
Meet at East Barnet Baptist Church hall, EN4 8PS. Come along for a cup of coffee and a friendly chat between 10am and 12noon.
For more information email: buildingfriendship@gmail.com. Or leave a message with your name and contact number on 020 8449 5320.
About Inclusion Barnet
We are a Peer-Led Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation (DDPO).
Nearly all of our directors and staff have lived experience of disability, including mental health issues and/or long-term health conditions.
We believe that learning to use our lived experience for social change is a skill. We have become experts in harnessing the lived experience of our staff, members, volunteers and the people who use our services to design and deliver higher quality, more person-centred services.
Other services run by Inclusion Barnet that you might be interested in are:
Benefits Advice Service (supporting Disabled people in Barnet to access the benefits they are entitled to).
Touchpoint (supports people experiencing any form of disability in Barnet to access the services and resources they need).
Healthwatch Enfield (an independent, statutory organisation dedicated to improving health and social care services in Enfield).
For more information about the wider range of other work we do please visit our website www.inclusionbarnet.org.uk
Useful links for mental health and wellbeing
Click on the title to go to the individual websites.
LOCAL
- Mind in Barnet - counselling
- Mind in Barnet Sanctuary - find calm, make space, move forward
- Barnet Wellbeing Service
- North London NHS Foundation Trust crisis helpline for Barnet, Enfield and Haringey 0800 151 0023 24/7, 365 days a year.
LONDON & NATIONAL
- Good Thinking - free online Mental Wellbeing for London
- Kooth - free, safe and anonymous online support for young people
- Qwell - free
online safe and confidential space to share & support
Shout - free, 24/7 text messaging support - text SHOUT to 85258 - Samaritans - free phone & email support in a crisis
Independent Living Centre, c/o Barnet & Southgate College,
7 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, London NW9 4BR
Inclusion Barnet is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
Registered Charity Number: 1158632
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