No images? Click here
May 2024 newsletter
Share this issue: 
Sign up to this newsletter
Dear ,
Welcome to the May 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 on each article, just click on its title.
Inclusion Barnet News
A big welcome to our new Trustee Anastasia Berry! Anastasia is passionate about co-production and supporting charities to get better at involving people with lived experience in everything they do. Read Anastasia introduction on our 'Meet the Team' page.
Did you know that we also deliver the Healthwatch Barnet service? Last month they issued their latest report on Care Home visits. Read about this and other news in their latest newsletter.
Our statement on the PIP consultation
You may have heard that the Government has started a consultation on the future of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Options put forward range from making it harder to qualify for PIP, to replacing it altogether with schemes such as those involving vouchers, or services instead of cash.
This will be concerning to people who currently qualify for PIP, but we can provide two reassurances:
- There isn’t an immediate danger to PIP, as any changes will be a matter for the next Parliament, after the General Election.
- We don’t think any of the proposals are acceptable and will be campaigning (working with many other disability and deaf and disabled people’s organisations) to ensure that they never happen.
Starters & leavers
Last month we were sad to say goodbye to Poppy Ingles-Oxley, our Peer Communications Officer at Healthwatch Barnet.
Opportunities to create change
Visit our consultations and campaigns page on the Inclusion Barnet website for all the opportunities to have your say on local and national issues that impact disabled people in Barnet.
Some local consultations receive as few as 14 online responses*. If just 15 of our members' responded to these, we could flip the script on disability representation.
Here's some of the top opportunities to get involved this month:
Share Your Experience: Help Improve Cancer Screening in Barnet!
Your anonymous feedback can help make screenings easier and save lives. Take a short survey about cancer screening services to help our colleagues at Healthwatch Barnet understand how to improve cancer screening services.
Closes: 16 June 2024
Burnt Oak Central - Experimental Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) consultation
The experimental CPZ will be named Burnt Oak Central Controlled Parking Zone (BOC) and will come into operation on 8 April 2024, for a period of up to eighteen months. The experimental scheme will enable officers to then conduct a statutory consultation before deciding to continue with its permanent implementation.
Closes: 9 November 2024
Deliver training on Learning Disability and Autism
North Central London Integrated Care Board are hiring! They are looking for people with lived experience of learning disabilities and autism to deliver ‘The Oliver McGowan Training on Learning Disability and Autism’. No previous experience is needed to apply, you will be trained on the job. Visit their website to find out more, including an Easy Read version of the job description.
Share your views: Improve support for Disabled students in higher education
Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) funds non-medical support and equipment for disabled students in higher education. You can take the survey on the Gov website to help the government consider how to improve this service.
Closes: 3 July 2024
Share your views: Changes to sick notes
The government recently announced planned changes to sick notes. Share your views on the planned changes on the Gov website.
Closes: 8 July 2024
Share your views: Changes to PIP benefit
The Work and Pensions Secretary announced plans to make changes to the disability benefit PIP (Personal Independence Payment). Share your views in the Gov’s consultation.
Closes: 22 July 2024
Met Police seeks disabled peoples input for better policing
The MET Disability Independent Advisory Group (DIAG) is seeking panel members to improve the service it provides to D/deaf and Disabled community members. For more info and how to apply, take a look at their poster or visit the alt text version.
Find all of Barnet Council's consultations on the Engage Barnet website.
*For example: Barnet Council's proposed Fees and Charges 2024-25 for services, which got 14 online responses.
Local news
Colindale tube station closures timetable
There are a number of stations closures planned throughout 2024 and the station will be completely close between June and December 2024. This is to carry out essential improvement works, including provision of step free access.
Barnet Mencap Autism Hub Grand Opening
Barnet Mencap have launched a new Autism Hub to support autistic adults, diagnosed and suspected, in Barnet.
North Mid Hospital and Royal Free Trust to merge
North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust are looking to merge together as one organisation by autumn 2024. This will not change routine local services at Royal Free London’s existing hospitals. By merging, the trusts expect to reduce waiting times, improve access to specialist care locally, take part in more research and more. Click the link to find out more on their FAQ’s.
Barnet Council sessions for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Residents
Barnet Council is hosting a session to provide more information on the accessibility tools that residents can use to contact the council. Sessions include:
Interpreters Live Demo Session
Thursday 23 May from 12pm to 3pm at Hendon Town Hall. Contact Tamara.Kodikara@barnet.gov.uk to attend.
Drop-in Session to speak to the council’s Adult Social Care-Engagement Teams and Sensory Impairment Teams
Wednesday 29 May, drop-in between 1pm to 4pm at Barnet Council Offices, 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, NW9 4EW.
Drop-in Session to speak to the council’s BOOST team (employment support) and Resident Experience Team (talk about council tax letters)
Tuesday 25 June, drop-in between 2pm to 5pm at Barnet Council Offices, 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, NW9 4EW.
BSL Interpreters will be available at all sessions. Contact Tamara.Kodikara@barnet.gov.uk for more details.
National news - local impact
Government announces closure of Work and Health Programme
The Work and Health Programme supports disabled people in getting a job. The Government announced that this scheme will be closing in autumn 2024. This follows previous announcements to changes in sick notes and reviews of the PIP benefit (Personal Independence Payment).
Be an inclusion champion
Your A-Z Guide for Social Media Accessibility
One of our favourite disability bloggers Holly @lifeofablindgrl on X (formerly Twitter) reminded us of the A-Z guide she created for social media accessibility. Making small changes can make a big difference for everyone!
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:
Sign up to this newsletter
Was this newsletter forwarded to you?
Sign up and get the next issue straight to your inbox!
You are receiving this email as a member or friend of Inclusion Barnet, or because you signed up to receive it. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter please:
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 other newsletters you can subscribe to, below.
