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October 2024 newsletter
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Welcome to the October edition of your 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
Inclusion Barnet lead national campaign for Disability Justice
We’re delighted to have launched our National Campaign for Disability Justice last month. If you’re a member of Inclusion Barnet, you'll have already received the launch details by email.
#OpportunitySecurityRespect
We’re calling on Government to work with Disabled people and Disabled-led organisations to guarantee opportunity to work and financial security and respect, for all Disabled people, whether in work or not.
We’ve already secured support from over 40 organisations, including many big national charities such as Scope, Disability Rights UK and Mencap, as well as Disabled People’s Organisations such as Inclusion London and Inclusion Scotland and networks including the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group and Disability Benefits Consortium.
Here’s what our CEO, Caroline Collier had to say as we launched the campaign with an open letter to the Minister for Social Security and Disability:
“We all want a decent quality of life for ourselves and those we care about, but over two million Disabled people are currently trapped in deep poverty. Three of the biggest issues are limited job opportunities, financial insecurity (whether in work or not), and how we are portrayed by Government and media. It’s this last part, “respect”, which sets the tone for how we are seen and valued in society in the first place”.
With the new Labour Government’s first Budget coming up we’re keeping a close watch on what they’ll do. We want to see involvment of Disabled people to ensure:
- PIP is developed to give solid support for choice, control and independence.
- High quality training and work preparation offered on an opt-in basis.
- Support for employers to create a more accessible and inclusive job market.
- A society that respects and values Disabled people and supports the development of local Disabled People’s Organisations.
Your support is crucial. Join us to help create a stronger voice for change.
ACT NOW: Sign up to support the campaign + more info
Geoff Fimister,
Head of Policy, Inclusion Barnet
Healthwatch Barnet is recruiting board members
Are you a Barnet resident, with experience using local health or social care services? Apply to join Healthwatch Barnet's Advisory Board.
The board meets four times a year and supports the work of Healthwatch as Barnet's health and social care champion. Meetings are face-to-face and online.
We particularly welcome applications from groups that are less represented in senior NHS decision-making roles, including Global Majority candidates, Disabled people and people with long-term health conditions, including mental health issues.
For more information, visit the Healthwatch Barnet website or email alice@healthwatchbarnet.co.uk.
Barnet Borough Sight Impaired celebrates 30th Anniversary
Inclusion Barnet attended the Barnet Borough Sight Impaired (BBSI) Exhibition last month. It was great to chat with residents and stall holders. There's some fantastic services our there which we've updated on our signposting resources. We also spoke to lots of people about Inclusion Barnet and our work, including the Mayor and local MP, Dan Tomlinson, who showed a keen interest in disability rights.
We are sad to say goodbye to Salman Khalid, Senior Communications & PR Officer.
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:
Are you a Disabled entrepreneur with a great business idea?
The Open University and Scope have joined forces to address the inequalities faced by Disabled entrepreneurs. They’re offering a competition open to any Disabled person in the UK who is at the idea or very early stage of starting up a business, with cash prizes of up to £2,500 .
Offer ends October 25 2024
Share your views on parking issues:
The council are looking into the current parking days and hours to see if any updates are needed to the Golders Green Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ). They want to understand if the current CPZ is meeting residents needs.
Closes: Sunday 13 October 2024
South Mead / Corner Mead NW9 – proposed parking spaces in Colindale CPZ (CL2) consultation
The council want to turn land that was occupied by old garages into parking bays for local residents. These new parking spots will be part of the Colindale Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ code CL2). Residents who have CL2 permits and visitor vouchers will be able to use these new parking areas from Monday to Friday, between 9am and 4pm.
Closes: Thursday 23 January 2025
New bus service between Golders Green and Stamford Hill
Earlier this month, a new bus service, 310, opened between Golders Green and Stamford Hill.
If you use this bus service, TfL want to hear from you. The consultation is open on their website and is available in Easy Read, audio, and a BSL conversation service. They would like to know your thoughts on the bus schedule, why you use this bus, and your opinions on the bus stops. This is a great opportunity to point out any parts of the service that may not be accessible to you.
Take part in the 310 bus route consultation.
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
Ongoing Thames Water works - outside Barnet Hospital -
Temporary works next to Barnet Hospital’s car parks which will impact access to the hospital by bus are ongoing. Patients travelling by bus are advised to allow more time to get to the hospital during this period. Works are due to end in a few weeks time.
Join Barnet Wellbeing for their next Hub Connections event to mark World Mental Health Day.
Date: Thursday 10 October
Time: 11am to 2pm
Location: The Meritage Centre, Church End, London, NW4 4JT
There will be lived experience stories, wellbeing activities, and an opportunity to connect with others in the community and find out about local services.
For more info or queries, email info@barnetwellbeing.org.uk or call 020 8364 8400.
Book your place for the Hub Connections event.
Brent Cross Town granted eco-friendly heating fund
Brent Cross Town was granted £14 million of funding from the Green Heat Network Fund, which comes from the government. This will provide affordable, low-carbon heat to residents and visitors.
Woman climbs Mount Kilimanjaro after High Barnet station accident
Our User Voice Project Lead recently met Sarah de Lagarde, a Camden resident who experienced a serious accident at High Barnet station. Sarah lost her right arm and leg after being hit by two Tube trains. She has achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first woman with two prosthetic limbs to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
Residents rally against high-rise plans in Edgware
Residents arranged a rally against plans to construct 25 new tower blocks in Edgware. There are concerns about how this would impact accessibility for older and Disabled people, including demolishing the covered bus stop, causing more strain on local healthcare services, and reducing parking.
Council signs Charter for Digital Inclusion
To mark the second annual End Digital Poverty Day, Barnet Council have pledged to work on removing barriers to digital access, literacy and skills. They are committed to making their services accessible for everyone, especially for Disabled people, people with low digital skills, and people without access to the internet. Modern technology is often required to find a job, get training, and access benefits. Which is why it is important everyone has access to digital tools.
Find out more and access their resources on the council website.
North London Mental Health Partnership to merge
Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust (BEH) and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust are expected to merge on 1 November and to be known as the North London NHS Foundation Trust.
National issue - local impact
Changes to Winter Fuel Payment
Eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment has changed and will now be means tested. The Winter Fuel Payment can help you with heating costs if you have reached State Pension age and receive a qualifying means-tested benefit. You could be eligible for either a £200 or £300 payment.
Applications need to be made by Saturday 21 December, the last date for making a backdated claim for Pension Credit, in order to receive the Winter Fuel Payment. Find out more and apply for Pension Credit online.
You can check if you are eligible using the benefits calculator on the Age UK website.
Paralympians call on Government for accessible school sports
Just 1 in 4 disabled children say they take part regularly in sport at school. The ParalympicsGB team wrote an open letter to the Government calling for better accessibility for Disabled children and young people in PE at school. Their Equal Play campaign outlines clear plans on how to achieve this and are asking the Government to work with ParalympicsGB to achieve them.
Be an Access Champion
Social care information chatbot
AccessAva is a free chatbot tool that gives you information about your rights to social care in England. It can help you with filling out template letters to your local authority, provide factsheets and videos about your rights, and answer Frequently Asked Questions. Some resources are also available in Easy Read.
This tool was created by the charity Access Social Care and you can try out the chat-box on the Inclusion London website.
Join us
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.
Share YOUR lived experience:
become a member of Inclusion Barnet
Support our national campaign:
every sign up counts
We're calling on 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.
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