Kingston Disability Network

Tag: kingston upon thames

  • Improving Kingston Riverside – Accessibility

    The following has been shared with us by the Kingston Council Engagement Team.

    We’re inviting community members to help shape the next stage of improvements to Kingston Riverside. We’re exploring how the riverside can become a more welcoming, accessible and enjoyable place for people of all ages.

    We’re particularly interested in hearing from people who live locally or use the riverside regularly.

    Participants will take part in a series of four workshops, including a Riverside Walk Audit. They’ll have the opportunity to share their experiences, identify what works well and what could be improved, and help develop recommendations for future improvements.

    Want to get involved?

    We really appreciate participants taking the time to share their experiences. As a thank you for their time and contribution, participants will receive a £20 voucher for each session they attend, with tea and coffee provided.

    The sessions will take place:

    • Thursday 15 October
    • Thursday 22 October
    • Thursday 5 November
    • Thursday 12 November

    Time: 10:30am–12:00pm
    Location: The Gallery, Rose Theatre, 24–26 High St, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1HL

    Please note that participants should be able to attend all four sessions.

    We’re accepting registrations until 4 October, with successful applicants notified by 8 October.

    We’d be grateful if you could share this opportunity with anyone who may be interested. We’re keen to hear from people with a range of experiences, including those who may have personal experience of barriers when accessing or using the riverside.

    Find out more and register your interest:
    Kingston Riverside: Continuing to improve accessibility

    If you have any questions, or would like further information to help share the opportunity, please get in touch at engagement@kingston.gov.uk.

  • Draft CIL Charging Schedule Consultation – open until 30.10.2026

    The Engagement team at Kingston Council has asked us to share the following information;

    We are writing to you to inform you that we have launched a public consultation on our Draft CIL Charging Schedule. The consultation will run from today, 18 September 2026, until 11.59pm on 30 October 2026.

    Kingston’s Draft CIL Charging Schedule outlines the proposed changes to the rates that developers must pay when new homes, businesses, or other forms of development are built in the borough, known as the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

    The proposed changes to CIL charging rates may be of particular interest to community organisations because CIL funding can help support the infrastructure, facilities, and services that local communities need as the borough grows. Changes to CIL rates can affect the level of funding available to support this infrastructure in the future.

    If your organisation delivers, manages or uses community facilities, or has an interest in how development contributes to local infrastructure, you may wish to review the proposed changes and share your views as part of the consultation. We welcome comments on the proposed rates and zones, and/or the evidence used to inform them. 

    Anyone making a comment (formally known as representation) may also request the right to be heard by the independent examiner during the CIL examination. 

    How to have your say:

    You will be able to share your final comments on the Draft Charging Schedule and supporting evidence in a number of ways:

    1. Information and Advice Centre (Guildhall 2, High Street, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1EU)
    2. Kingston Library (Fairfield Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2PS)
    3. Surbiton Library (Ewell Rd, Surbiton, KT6 6AG)
    4. New Malden Library (48 Kingston Rd, New Malden, KT3 3LY)
    5. Hook Centre Library (13 Hook Rd, Hook, Chessington, KT9 1EJ)

    If you need the Draft CIL Charging Schedule or supporting evidence in an alternative format, or have a question, please email cil@kingston.gov.uk or call us on 020 8547 5000. 

  • 27th August AMM – Meeting Minutes

    The following comprises the minutes of our All Members Meeting on the 27th August 2026.

    Meeting opened at 1:30PM following 30 minutes of networking time.

    Began with introductions of everyone around the room, along with basic housekeeping rules.

    Notes from the Executive (Ashley Pearce and Keegan Hillier):
    • Organising meetings for KDN members to discuss the Local Plan and Concessionary Travel Engagement, with further details to be shared when they are confirmed
    • KDN has been attending meetings with Councillors and the Council to continue advocating for disabled residents
    • KDN will be attending the Councillors – VSCE meet and greet on the 17th September – if members have anything in particular they would like to be raised, please send to info@kdn.org.uk before the 17th.
    Apologies:
    • Susan Beechey – Alzheimers Society Kingston and Richmond
    • Colin Pike – Individual member
    • Odette Battarel – KAB/KSS
    • Liz Meerabeau – Individual member / on board of Kingston and Richmond Hospitals
    • Karen Dempster – Healthwatch / New Dialogue
    • Helen May – RBK
    • Rachel Ugle – Individual member
    • Jason Lamont and Joanne Stafferron – KCIL
    Leeni Szalay-Winters – The Larch / Eco-Op:
    • Leeni narrates the video as we have issues with sound
      • Video shows positives of The Larch and socialisation support and activities
      • Video can be found at Welcome to the Larch! 
    • Leeni has flyers – left available on desk
    • The Larch is for autistic people without a Learning Disability or mental health disorder – 18+
      • Is a drop-in service, so people can come and go as they please
        • Leeni does follow up if people stop attending, just so that
      • Encourage people to go to Autism and ADHD strategy board and can refer to things like Connected to Work, but is far more a social club rather than a referrals hub
    • Eco-Op is open 9:30-3:30 – needs referrals and is paid for, usually commissioned
    • Roy Smith suggests putting The Larch on the Lets Talk emails / newsletters – Alysia Hurrell will drop an email to Leeni to connect
    • The Larch goes on outings once a month
    • Michael Crawford-Hick (Sports photographer) to connect with Cycle for All – to be facilitated.
    Financial Inclusion – Catarina Principe:
    • Goes over the 3 main disability benefits – PIP (working age adults, 16-65), DLA (children under 16), and Attendance Allowance (for older people)
    • Support schemes;
      • Blue Badges 
      • Taxicard – subsidised travel for taxis
        • In Kingston you get 104 swipes per year – but they don’t roll over. Follow the financial year so April to March
      • Freedom pass
        • Roy points out that there still are time restrictions on older persons passes (9:30AM-11:30PM) – but in Kingston, the disabled persons’ bus pass is usable 24 hours a day. Important for older disabled people to get a disabled person’s bus pass rather than an older persons one.
        • In Surrey, carers can go for free on the bus when with someone with a freedom pass is travelling with them – but that is not the case in London
        • Discourse over whether a disabled persons’ bus pass can be used outside of the borough it has been issued in – Roy Smith says KAB members have been unable to, but Keegan Hillier says his Hampshire disabled persons bus pass is useable by showing it to the driver, as it just does not buzz properly.
      • Motability (as part of PIP)
    • All except Motability include automatic entitlement criteria as well as discretionary
    • Discusses the Timms Review of PIP
      • Finds it relies heavily on appeals to get PIP and the system is heavily flawed
    • Uses a case of a real person
      • Suggested he was given ‘indefinite’ PIP – both Sophie Ugle and Keegan Hillier challenge this, as there is no such thing as indefinite PIP
        • Keegan Hillier suggests that as the claimant was 65, the point where PIP and Attendance Allowance cross over, it may have been ‘indefinite’ PIP until he was moved to Attendance Allowance.
    • Roy Smith asks for contact details
      • Alysia Hurrell offers to share with notes
    • Universal Credit changes – LCWRA has changed since April 2026 so most people will get a lower amount, but does not affect those who were already receiving benefits
      • Catarina is unsure on the specifics of what counts as ‘severe’ or ‘life long’
      • LCW and LCWRA are points-based
    • New Style ESA is for people who have worked within the last 2-3 years, but the payments join up with UC and can be deducted from it
    • Catarina’s team only supports those in Council Housing – different team to those who support those housed privately or in housing associations
      • If you’re on the housing register but are not yet in any council accommodation, you’re still with the other team
    • Catarina’s team goals are welfare / benefits advice, benefit reconsiderations and appeals, budgeting and debt repayments, and assistance with non-financial needs like foodbank vouchers, bus passes, freedom passes, etc.
      • Referrals can be made by those who work in the social sector e.g. local authority or medical professionals. Also take self-referrals
    • Referral form and email will be shared along with the slides 
    • Sophie Ugle raises that the system of multiple benefits systems is difficult and complex to navigate
      • Also mentions Severe Disability Premium – which she had not been aware of until 4 years ago – which is part of ESA but is not well advertised. This payment doesn’t get deducted from benefits if the SDP team are the ones who had made an error
        • KDN team should look into the details of this benefit
    • Catarina’s team don’t offer accompaniment to tribunals – has shared a list of other support services on her slides
    • There’s a hearing loop but no sign language provision in the offices where Catarina’s team work
    Alysia Hurrell – Engagement & the Local Plan:
    • Updates on some engagement projects;
      • Changing Places in Kingston – still awaiting updates but conversations are now on the table again – but requiring continuous repetition and
        • Hook Library, Latchmere Park, Bentalls Centre (when open), Tesco in New Malden (when open, technically in Merton)
        • There is a map now for changing places – Alysia will circulate the details
          • Michael Crawford-Hick and Roy Smith suggest using the Snowball App as well which is mapping accessibility of shops and services, as rated by real people
        • AccessAble can also be used and is commissioned by the Council
      • Neighbourhood Committee Infrastructure Levy – expressions of interest are open for funding for local infrastructure projects across Kingston, North Kingston and Surbiton.
      • Neighbourhood grants are also open.
      • Local Plan is still open for a few more weeks for consultations, and looking to see if we can have a meeting that’s disability focused at this round of conversation
    Any Other Business:
    • Dysart School – did have 2 disabled parking bays, and they were removed by the Council for the implementation of the cycle lane. This was inappropriate especially due to Dysart being an SEN school, and now parents dropping their kids off don’t have anywhere to park. The two disabled bays have now been put directly into the cycle lane, which creates a major hazard. There was no consultation and it has harmed people.
    • MUGA at Beverly Park – Sophie Ugle mentions that councillors were using ‘accessible for all’ as buzzwords and were not actively listening to residents with real disability experiences. Sophie wants to make sure that people within the disability network should hear things like this as they are unacceptable
      • Councillors don’t listen / want to listen when disabled parents and representatives are involved
      • Roy Smith says that it’s important for the council to recognise that there are more disabled people than the Council accepts or acknowledges
    • The Council is a Sunflower Lanyard supporter
      • Roy Smith mentions issues about lack of signage and lack of promotion of simple accessibility things
    • Adult Social Care representative mentions that her team are strong supporters of accessibility for their clients
      • Keegan Hillier discusses his experience with the Adult Social Care team, where they assumed he had no capacity for consent and refused to speak with him, as an example that even teams with a focus on disability care can still act in harmful or inappropriate ways
    KDN – Volunteering Opportunities:
    • Both Treasurer and Social Media / Communications officer posts are open and available to apply for. Brief details on both are;
      • Treasurer:
        • Manage the finances of the Kingston Disability Network (KDN)
        • Work alongside the Executive Committee and Steering Group to apply for charitable grants and community group funding 
      • Social Media / Communications Officer:
        • Advertise the Kingston Disability Network (KDN) to external bodies through creation of advertisement graphics, social media posts, and attendance of public events 
        • Promote a positive image of the Network
    • Chair position is also vacant, and whilst a job description has yet to be written, if members would like to apply or hear more, they are encouraged to get in contact
    • One Steering Group member slot left

  • 17th September – Concessionary Travel Engagement Event

    The following information is shared in collaboration with Kingston Council

    Concessionary Travel: engagement event

    Date:  Thursday 17th September, 10.30am-12pm

    Venue: Council Chamber, Guildhall, High Street, Kingston upon Thames KT1 1EU

    Kingston Council and Kingston Disability Network invite you to an engagement session on planned changes to how Concessionary Travel applications are processed. This covers three services:

    • Blue Badges – national parking concessions for residents with severe mobility difficulties or hidden disabilities
    • Freedom Passes – processing and issuing Disabled Person’s and Older Person’s Freedom Passes
    • Taxicards – administering subsidised taxi travel for residents with severe mobility impairments
      • The proposed resident journey and support available at each stage
      • How assessments and reviews should work
      • How we should measure service quality and resident experience
      • What social value commitments a future provider should be expected to deliver

    Why we’re asking you
    We’re reviewing the service model for these schemes, and we want resident and stakeholder input to shape it before decisions are finalised. This session is your chance to hear the proposed approach and tell us directly what would make it work better.

    We’d like your views on:

    • The proposed resident journey and support available at each stage
    • How assessments and reviews should work
    • How we should measure service quality and resident experience
    • What social value commitments a future provider should be expected to deliver

    Tea and coffee will be provided. Please let us know in advance if you have any access requirements.

    RSVP: info@kdn.org.uk 

  • Transport Liaison Group Notes – 19.08.26

    The following are notes from the Council’s Transport Liaison Group, which was attended for the KDN by Secretary Keegan Hillier.

    • SL7 fleet are now electrified
    • News box at kingston station lights is currently removed
    • Fix my street isn’t accessible for the visually impaired who can’t use a map – and when members make mistakes and put pins in the wrong places / boroughs, the issues aren’t communicated to the right councils. Streetcare has a phone number but needs more promotion and improvements. TfL attendee notes these.
    • Cromwell road bus station has been mentioned to the accessibility delivery group within TfL
      • Keegan suggested reminding these teams that it’s financially better if they do things right the first time.
    • 31st August to 15th September – the freedom passes website will be shut down these dates
    • Roy raised floating bus stops and how there’s a campaign for them to be made illegal.
      • TfL contact agrees to ask for an update about floating bus stops.
    • Greener buses are leading to less childhood asthma and lung damage – will ease stress on healthcare, in schools, and bring greater prospects for young people in Kingston.
    • KAB has been given a grant called greener roots for an audio guide to connect with the hogsmill river – mp3 files will be on the website about different parts of the river eg art, culture, nature. Also street guides for those who need additional help.
    • Berrylands renovations are on track to open at the end of September on schedule, and are within budget – new platforms will be flat and level.
      • Odette asks for orientation for blind members using Berrylands station – Network Rail says they will arrange with an accessibility officer.
        • Ashley has since asked if KDN can be included in this orientation offer
    • APCOA are now moving bikes out of highways and off from the middle of pavements. Lime bikes can take from hours to days to collect and move bikes.
    • Will be a micromobility officer from september for a few months to help support in communications with bike companies.
      • There’s no Lime bike contact for the council due to lack of contract, but there is a contact for Forest so they are more responsible / accountable.
      • Keegan raises trying to educate people more on where you can and can’t leave a bike.
      • Hillary Gander mentions that lots of e-cyclists have never ridden a bike since they were young – they aren’t trained on proper bike etiquette. KCC is aware but wondering what more can be done.
      • Cllr Nardelli is surprised to hear about the number of e-cyclists without prior experience – agreement on need to educate.
      • Roy suggests the Council use lets talk emails to keep residents informed on things like cycling rules and signage.
    • TfL funding has been allocated for priority bays and ebike bays on the road. These roadside bays are the first in the borough.
    • There will be a requirement for whoever wins the ebike contract in September that there are more bikes going to the south of the borough, improving travel prospects and access.
    • KCC would like more liaising involved in the Fountain Roundabout.
    • Delivery apps are only paying when you deliver in time slots – incentivises dangerous .
    • Police community board being set back up after 2 years in KT
      • Cllr Nardelli says she imagines dangerous high speed e-bikes will be a priority on this board. 
      • Currently it’s hard to get the police to act without the home office coming along.
    • Idminston Road will be getting bollards put in in the next few weeks.
    • 2 new school streets to committee in September – Coombe Girls and Robin Hood Vale.
    • Changes to school streets exemptions – making it easier for kids and drivers to get exemptions. Taxi drivers can also retrospectively call the team to let them know they have dropped off a disabled child in a school zone (48 hours after).
      • Taxi representative suggests automatically exempting all taxis, as this has been done in some other boroughs.
    Names mentioned and their organisations

    Roy – Roy Smith of Kingston Association for the Blind / Kingston Sightloss Support

    Odette – Odette Battarel of Kingston Association for the Blind / Kingston Sightloss Support

    Cllr Nardelli – Cllr Nicola Nardelli, chair of the Transport Liaison Group

    Keegan – Keegan Hillier of the KDN

    Hillary Gander – Hillary Gander of Kingston Cycling Campaign (KCC)

    APCOA – parking enforcement agency

  • AMM August 27th – Agenda

    Date 27th August 

    Time: 13:00 – 15:00pm

    Where: In person at Quaker Centre 

    Meeting will be chaired by Ashley Pearce and Keegan Hillier 

    1:00pm – Arrivals 

    Tea, coffee and biscuits 

    1:00pm – 1:25pm – Networking 

    1:25pm – KDN introductions, Keegan Hillier, Ashley Pearce 

    1:35pm – 1:50pm – Speaker 1 – Leeni Szalay-Winters for The Larch 

    1:50pm – 2:10pm – Speaker 2 – Catarina Principe ( Financial Inclusion Team), Benefits advice

    2:10pm – 2:20pm – Break 

    2:20pm – 2:35pm – Speaker 3 – Engagement  – Alysia

    • Local Plan reg 19 Consultation
    • KDN perspective 

    2:35pm – 2:45pm – KDN volunteering opportunities

    • Treasurer and Social Media/Communications roles
    • Chair role – interest check / early applicants

    2:45pm – 3:00pm – AOB

    3:00pm – Meeting closed 

    Following the meeting, members are free to continue networking in the Quaker Centre’s communal areas.

    Secretary Keegan Hillier has developed a list of considerations for the Local Plan, which have been circulated via email and are available to download below. The KDN aims to submit our official commentary to the Council following our AMM on the 27th.

    Local Plan disability considerations_points of interest (3)Download

  • Have your say on the Local Plan

    We are pleased to share the following from Kingston Council’s engagement team:

    The Council has now reached the final stage of consultation on Kingston’s new Local Plan. This is an important opportunity for residents, businesses and community groups to comment on whether the Plan is legally compliant and sound before it is submitted for independent examination.

    Thank you for helping us ensure as many people as possible are aware of this final opportunity to have their say.

    A graphic for the Local Plan. Text at the top reads 'Shaping the future together', followed underneath by 'Our vision for Kingston 2028-2043. There is a stylised image depicting parts of Kingston, including the riverside and iconic post boxes.

    We’re getting in touch to let you know that the final consultation on Kingston’s new Local Plan is now open and we’d really welcome your views. The consultation runs until 11.59pm on Friday 4 September 2026.

    The Local Plan sets out how Kingston could grow and change over the next 15 years, including where new homes, jobs, infrastructure, community facilities, culture and leisure opportunities could be located, while protecting the things that make our borough special, such as our parks, green spaces and local character.

    The Plan also sets out where development can take place and the planning policies that will be used to make decisions on future planning applications.

    What you can share your views on 

    At this stage, which is called a Regulation 19 consultation, comments must focus on whether the borough’s Plan is legally compliant and sound, as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), paragraphs 36-38. If you believe something has not been done correctly, or that the Plan does not meet the required standards, we would like to hear from you.

    Once this consultation has closed, we will review all of the comments received, prepare and submit Kingston’s Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate by the end of the year.

    How to share your final comments

    The Local Plan and all related consultation documents are available on our Kingston Let’s Talk engagement portal. The evidence base, which informs the Local Plan, is on our website. 

    You can submit your final comments legal compliance and soundness in a number of ways: 

    If you need the Local Plan in another format, or if you have a question, please email localplan@kingston.gov.uk or call us on 020 8547 5000 and we’ll call you back. 

    Join us at a drop-in session 

    If you’d like to find out more or ask questions, please come along to one of our borough-wide drop-in sessions:

    • Saturday 25 July, 12pm to 3pm – Market House, 25 Market Place, Kingston, KT1 1JS
    • Wednesday 12 August, 4pm to 7pm – New Malden Methodist Church (Lower Hall), 49 High Street, New Malden, KT3 4BY 
    • Saturday 15 August, 9am to 1pm – Surbiton Farmers’ Market, Maple Rd, Surbiton KT6 4FB

    Thank you for taking the time to get involved and helping to shape Kingston’s future

    Secretary Keegan Hillier has also asked the Engagement Team if the KDN can have a disability-focused meeting with the Council surrounding the plan – we will update with their response!

  • Run for Kingston Sightloss Support – 4th October 2026

    Network members Kingston Sightloss Support (KSS) are looking for runners to take part in this year’s Kingston Half-Marathon, which takes place on the 4th of October. This is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Kingston whilst raising vital funds for a good cause, supporting the work of KSS.

    If you are interested, please contact the team at kab@kingstonassociationforblind.org or 0208 605 0060.

    For more information, please see the KSS website, at https://kingstonassociationforblind.org/marathon/

  • Notes from the LIME Disability Advisory Board, 30th April 2026

    The LIME Disability Advisory Board, which is a national board, was attended by Acting Chair Ashley Pearce, Secretary Keegan Hillier, and Steering Group member for Healthwatch Kingston, Karen Dempster.

    We heard about the design of new and improved bikes. These will be an improvement thanks to:
    • A lighter and smaller design, developed with women, older people, and disabled people in mind, making them easier to use.
    • Greater GPS precision – meaning LIME can identify when bikes are parked on pavements or in other obstructive spaces.
    • Clearer improvements to the app, to explain to cyclists where they can and can’t walk.
    We asked about the steps being taken to improve cycling safety. They are, currently, as follows:
    • LIME do pop-ups with the police, educating cyclists on the dangers of unsafe cycling. They also assure us they ban thousands of offending cyclists a year, but know they need to do more.
    • LIME are able to track down LIME bike cyclists who are cycling on pavements or unsafely, even when the person reporting is visually impaired and cannot track down specific details. To do this, you need to note the date, time and location of the incident, and report this to LIME, who can then use their tracking to identify the offender.
    • Whilst LIME are yet to take a firm stance against ‘floating bus stops’, our contact Leanne shares her own struggles as a non-disabled cyclist with these set-ups. We will be sharing the National Federation of the Blind’s campaign with LIME for them to look into.
    LIME let us know some details about their ‘share the joy’ fund, in collaboration with the National Cycling Campaign.
    • This provides grants to increase cycling in underrepresented groups – improving health and wellbeing, accessibility and inclusion, or skills and connectivity. They have supported groups like those who help disabled people learn to cycle and helping people cycle with trikes.
    • The fund opens twice a year. The next opening will be in September-October time. If you know of any groups that would be interested, please direct them to the LIME team for more detail.
    LIME plans to put access at the forefront for Global Accessibility Awareness Day, which falls on the 21st May:
    • The app will display a banner for all users reminding them to keep accessibility in mind when cycling and leaving bicycles.
    • They will hold an in-person event in Hackney, one of the boroughs with the highest LIME bike usage. We have been invited to attend, so one of the Executive Committee will attend and report back.

  • Inclusion London Event – What Next for Independent Living?

    Secretary Keegan Hillier attended the Inclusion London event, What next for Independent Living?, on Thursday 16th April. The event took place in person at the Coin Street Community Centre in Central London.

    The focus of the day was on understanding the movement out of institutions and imprisonment, and ensuring that disabled people remain able to choose and have a say in their care and living situations.

    A photo of attendees from the Inclusion London Event. There is a diverse group of around 30 people, all smiling at the camera.

    As the photo shows, there was a wide range of people from across the capital, with some coming in from even further afield. We hope to invite some of the contacts made to future All Members Meetings to share how schemes from other areas can be applied to and improve accessibility and disability understanding in Kingston upon Thames.

    Keegan’s Key Takeaways from the day were;

    • The Independent Living movement is surprisingly new – the movement began in the late 1960s in America.
      • The UK version was kicked off by John Evans, among other prisoners of institutions, leading up to Project 81, with the UN International Year of Disabled People, 1981, being their target for freedom.
    • In the 1980s, Centres for Independent Living (CILs) and Deaf and Disabled Peoples Organisations (DDPOs) created, and practiced, the concept of self-directed support.
      • This was a radical change at the time, challenging the medical and charitable models of disability in favour of the social model.
      • This was where the move to describing people as Personal Assistants (PAs) over Carers came in, as they assisted with living life.
    • It took until 2007 for the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People. This was ratified by the UK government in 2010.
    • Intersectionality was essential, especially in the early days of the Independent Living movement.
      • Panelists explained how the Black Panthers movement in America were very supportive of the ‘Crip Camps’ and other disability organisations and movements that went on in their country. The panelists also raised how women were particularly important in supporting the work of Independent Living activists, especially in its early days.
    • Reflections on what more needs to be done included;
      • Revisions to personal budgets, to allow for greater freedom to provide what disabled people need.
      • Tackling misconceptions of what ‘independence’ means, as what is viewed as independence to able-bodied people is often very different to what is true independence for disabled people.
      • Continuing to speak up when policy and systems are not working. This includes, but is not limited to, advocacy for greater funding into social care, or pushing for more accessible and adaptable affordable and social housing.

    Inclusion London regularly runs campaigns, and events, working to improve accessibility and unite disabled people across London. You can see their current campaigns at the following link – https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/campaigns-and-policy/

  • The Fairfield review wants to hear your experiences of the Met Police

    The following is shared on behalf of Inclusion London:

    The Fairfield Independent Review is looking into what the Met Police have done to regain public trust since the Casey Review found serious failings, including shocking ableism from the police. 

    The review wants to hear about your experiences of the Met Police, positive or negative.

    There are three ways to give your views:

    Please also see the article from Inclusion London for more information – https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/news/the-fairfield-review-wants-to-hear-your-experiences-of-the-met-police/

  • Job Vacancy: External Communications / Social Media Manager

    This role’s aims and expectations are as follows:

    • Advertise the Kingston Disability Network (KDN) to external bodies through creation of advertisement graphics, social media posts, and attendance of public events
    • Promote a positive image of the Network, whilst keeping an eye out for disability or charity-related events in the Kingston Borough for members of the Executive Committee to attend. The External Comms manager does not have to be the one to attend said events, but is responsible for sharing these events with their Executive Committee peers, ensuring someone is able to attend or that the Secretary sends our apologies for the KDN’s absence.

    The position of External Communications Manager requires someone with an understanding of graphic design, or a passion for learning. It would be well-suited to a university student looking to develop marketable skills, but we welcome applicants from any background. The External Communications Manager will have access to the KDN’s social media pages – currently Twitter/X and a Facebook group – and will use programs like Canva to create eye-catching graphics, keeping in mind the need to include Image Descriptions and dyslexia-friendly fonts. There may also be the need to create event posters and graphics on occasion.

    This role requires someone with some familiarity with disability, whether through personal experience, past employment, or a keen interest in accessibility. The role also requires the role-holder to live or work within, or close to, the Royal Borough of Kingston-Upon-Thames, as the KDN is Kingston-focused. 

    The External Communications role offers fairly flexible working, with the only requirements being a once-monthly meeting (usually hybrid) and once-weekly check-ins with the rest of the Executive Committee. These check-ins can be through casual meet-up, email, or phone, depending on the needs and schedules of all involved. All other work can be completed whenever your schedule suits, and can be moulded to fit around a career, degree, or any other commitments. We expect this role should take no more than 2 hours for the average week, but may have periods requiring up to 5 hours a week, with notice.

    As this role is voluntary, we are unable to pay for any costs or charges the applicant may encounter. However, we do not expect the applicant to pay out of pocket for any premium services, and if these should be required, the KDN will cover costs.

    Those interested in the position should submit a CV and a short text, no more than 500 words, detailing your experience or interest in working as an External Communications officer or for a disability organisation. This can be sent to info@kdn.org.uk. Please also submit any questions to this address, as we are happy to speak to interested applicants.

    Those who are successful in their submissions will be invited to a short, semi-informal interview with the Vice-Chair and Secretary, to discuss suitability for the role and answer any questions you may have.

  • Role vacancy: Treasurer

    This role’s aims and expectations are as follows:

    • Manage the finances of the Kingston Disability Network (KDN)
    • Work alongside the Executive Committee and Steering Group to apply for charitable grants and community group funding

    The position of treasurer requires someone who is comfortable with numbers and finances. Prior treasurer experience is not required, but if you lack the current experience, we ask for a proactive passion for learning. The treasurer will have access to the KDN’s banking, alongside the Vice-Chair and Secretary, and will offer sensible budgeting ideas for events, activities, and running costs. The Treasurer will create spreadsheets covering the KDN’s regular costs, ongoing fees, and streams of income, offering all relevant bodies an understanding of the ins and outs of the KDN’s financial status.

    This role requests someone with some familiarity with disability, whether through personal experience, past employment, or a keen interest in accessibility. The role also requires the role-holder to live within, or close to, the Royal Borough of Kingston-Upon-Thames, as the KDN is Kingston-focused. 

    The Treasurer role offers fairly flexible working, with the only requirements being a once-monthly meeting (usually hybrid) and once-weekly check-ins with the rest of the Executive Committee. These check-ins can be through casual meet-up, email, or phone, depending on the needs and schedules of all involved. All other work can be completed whenever your schedule suits, and can be moulded to fit around a career, degree, or any other commitments, and is expected to be no more than a few hours a week, often less.

    As this role is voluntary, we are unable to pay for any costs or charges the applicant may encounter. However, we do not expect the successful applicant to pay for any applications necessary for the treasurer role, and covering the cost of these can be discussed should any come up.

    Those interested in the position should submit a CV and a short text, no more than 500 words, detailing your experience or interest in working as a treasurer or for a disability organisation. This can be sent to info@kdn.org.uk. Please also submit any questions to this address, as we are happy to speak to interested applicants.

    Those who are successful in their submissions will be invited to a short, semi-informal interview with the Vice-Chair and Secretary, to discuss suitability for the role and answer any questions you may have.