Meeting Notes

Our monthly meeting notes, agenda and updates.

RSN Greater London August Notes

Updates from the Disability Unit

Updates from RSN Greater London

We have two new members - Lora Noncheva and Ian Fenn. They both bring loads of lived experience and knowledge to our membership. I'll ask them if they'd like to intro themselves in our call.

I am testing digital tools as mentioned last month.

Thanks to Michele, I was reminded our old email list was stopped when I moved off Google Workspace. This is now reinstated with my newer email provider, Proton. You will have been invited to a new email list, please do accept. 

All email sent to the list email address below will be distributed to all members of that list, including replies to it.

members@rsngreaterlondon.org.uk

For collecting feedback to specific topics like our themes, I have set up another go with Etherpad, a collaborative web page to gather views on Access to Work, our current theme for the Minister. We used this for the PIP Review a while back. This can be accessed at any time of your convenience at this link:

https://rsn-pad.pikapod.net/p/RSN_Greater_London_Access_To_Work_Pad

In terms of keeping notes and documents, I'm trying out this wiki, which is a collaborative website that all logged in people can view, navigate, edit and add comments. It uses a books metaphor. 

You use your email address and your first name-last name (all one word) as the password. Do change your password afterwards.

RSN Greater London is our bookshelf, which holds books for Meeting Notes, Ministerial Themes, RSN London Themes, RSN Greater London Info. Each book has pages such as what you're reading now. You can navigate using the menu visible at all times, and see where you are with the breadcrumbs at the top. It should be a straightforward structure.

On each page, there are Actions on the left to edit, watch for changes, or add a page.

You can add comments by highlighting text and clicking on the chat balloon in the little pop up that appears, or just click add a comment at the bottom of the page.

Just email me with any questions or help.

https://ddl-bookstack.pikapod.net/shelves/rsn-greater-london 

Another is a discussion forum, which is a way to keep messages or posts in structured channels for multiple discussions and feedback to issues at the same time, but without the need for real time chat as in WhatsApp.

RSN Greater London July Notes

Overview

I apologise for the prolonged silence, I was very busy in June and then out of the UK till almost mid-July, so catching up on things.

At the July monthly meeting, I had some technical difficulties getting the Zoom meeting started and quite a few people sent apologies.

There is never an issue with not being able to join monthly meetings, we always hope to see you when possible and will share updates here and by email/WhatsApp to keep you updated.


I am trying different digital tools to allow for more ways to input or respond. You can share your comments and feedback via comments here in:

A wiki to share docs and pages for comments. More coming with a link.

EtherPad (our collaborative doc tool to gather views for various issues to Government - https://rsn-pad.pikapod.net/p/RSN_Greater_London_Pad)

Email (chair@rsngreaterlondon.org.uk)

WhatsApp group (joining link, but not obligatory - https://chat.whatsapp.com/HZSjpReBjCDFb5qdSS6ppr?mode=gi_t)

The Disabled Londoner (https://thedisabledlondoner.org.uk), via comments to posts

Any publicly accessible updates and general disability news have been published here:

https://thedisabledlondoner.org.uk


Latest

Following Andy Burnham’s appointment as PM, in the restructure, the Disability Unit has moved with Equalities and Opportunities, from Cabinet Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Minister Stephen Timms remains as key minister for disabled people.

I’ll chase on more updated from the DU, as I haven’t heard from them in a while, but we are having our monthly meeting of the DU and RSN Chairs this Wednesday, the 29th, so I can share more after that.

Updates sent from the Disability Unit


Minutes from the last monthly Disability Unit and RSN Chairs Meeting on 1st July (attended by Kush as Deputy as I was away).

Key points/actions to note:

Equal Pay and Pay Discrimination

The Office for Equality and Opportunity (OEO), within the Cabinet Office, have today launched a consultation on Equal Pay and Pay Discrimination.

The UK government is seeking evidence and views on how we can deliver a comprehensive reform of the current pay discrimination framework so that it works better for workers, businesses, and the justice system.

We are seeking views on proposals to fix the areas of the system that are currently falling short. We are also seeking views on how we can address gaps and inconsistencies in the framework currently affecting disabled people, those from ethnic minority groups, and outsourced workers. The responses from this consultation will help us to ensure that we meet our ambition and fulfill our objectives to:

We are committed to collaborating with businesses, civil society, and trade unions to get the balance right with these reforms, ensuring that they fully account for all parties’ needs and circumstances. The responses to this consultation will be used to inform our next steps.


As an important stakeholder, we are keen for the RSN to be able to share your views. We would also encourage you to share this information with your wider networks.

Unfortunately we are unable to publish the accessible and alternative formats of the consultation document today. We appreciate the frustration this may cause to you and your members, and will publish these formats on this page as soon as possible. To ensure alternative formats are available for sufficient time to enable consideration of our proposals, we have extended the consultation to 15 weeks. This consultation closes at 5pm on 27 October 2026. We will write to you again when the accessible and alternative formats are available.

As you will have seen from my email yesterday, you have been sent an invite for an optional meeting this Friday 17 July 11-11.20/30am with my colleagues in the wider OEO to update you on this work. Please bring any questions/comments on the above to this call.


RSN Annual Activity Update

Please find a letter attached from Minister Timms writing to you announcing the publication of the RSN annual activity update, which covers the work of the RSN December 2024 to December 2025.

The DU also want to thank the RSN Chairs and their members for all their hard work. Please can you share the letter and report with your members. Here is the link to the report (also in accessible formats): www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-unit-regional-stakeholder-network-annual-activity-update and we have also added a link to it from the main RSN page: www.gov.uk/government/groups/disability-unit-regional-stakeholder-network#about-the-rsn

Here also are links to comms that we have put out around this today and we would be grateful if you are able to re-share any of these on your own accounts please, as this publication not only showcases the great work of the RSN, but also hopefully encourages new member applications:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rsn-ugcPost-7482451726042689536-_Wrc/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAADc3WGsBobKteYYtGc6LfdzW5wyk-K68-4o

X: https://x.com/oeogovuk/status/2076684451422110155?s=20

Timms Review Update

Please see an update from the co-chairs of the Timms Review: Sharon Brennan, Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE and the Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms on The Timms Review - GOV.UK. Alternative formats (including BSL, Easy Read and audio) are also available on this page.


This co-chair update contains details of the Review’s Interim Report, which we are sharing on behalf of the Timms Review steering group. The Interim Report provides a fuller update on the steering group’s work to date, and includes a summary of the Call for Evidence findings.


The report is available at Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment: Interim Report - GOV.UK and alternative formats (including BSL, Easy Read and audio) are also available on this page. The steering group would be very grateful if you could share the Interim Report widely throughout your organisations and networks.

RSN Chairs Meetings and Next Theme

The new RSN theme will be Access to Work. My colleagues at DWP will come to speak to you all about this at the meeting.of Chairs and the DU on the 29th.

At the meeting DU can also discuss with you on future themes following your queries by email.

We will also have a colleague from the DU ATech team coming to the meeting to update you about their work.

The next DU and Chairs meeting is 29th July 130pm.

Other Government-related Updates

Employment Gap Report Launch - 13 July 2026

I attended the launch of the Employment Gap Report Out of Sight – Out of Work. 

 This was in their follow up email:

A wide range of valuable perspectives were shared - including great input from yourself, with many useful points raised in the Report. Taken together, the discussion led to a clear and shared conclusion: the government needs to create a Taskforce to act on what is already known – the barriers are clearly defined, we now need to have the courage to create outcomes. 

As we went round the table, it was evident that employers need more guidance and support to turn policies into processes; assistive technology skills need to be taught early on to enable; government must create a clear pathway for people from the point of diagnosis to enable them to make use of their talent; and shift culture and attitudes by leading the way in procurement. 

We will be following up with you as we move this forward and would greatly value your continued involvement. 

In the meantime, please find below a link to the Employment Gap Report Out of Sight – Out of Work as well as to today’s LinkedIn post recapping the launch meeting. 

Please do share freely on your official LinkedIn channels and to your member newsletters if you can! 

Employment Gap Report Out of Sight – Out of Work

https://lordchrisholmes.com/report-on-the-employment-gap-for-blind-and-partially-sighted-people-in-the-uk-out-of-sight-out-of-work/

 

LinkedIn post: 

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lord-chris-holmes_73-of-blind-or-partially-sighted-bps-people-ugcPost-7482450105099382784-wv0x/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABrYTpAB0dHOa1Y1y1Sv3zefGsN2u9Q3LrM

DWP Roundtable 23rd June on Accessibility and Technology

I attended this remotely while waiting for my flight from Heathrow. Pat McFadden is gathering views on Accessibility and Technology for disabled people.

The next one is in September, where we will put forth ideas on the table.

Equality Objectives London

This is from a series of invitations from the Greater London Assembly:

The GLA is refreshing the Mayor's Equality Objectives, which are due to be published in 2026.  

Reducing inequality is a priority for the Mayor and our engagement process will use our shared understanding of the Mayors’ powers to build upon four key themes. The engagement will include identifying shared priorities and common themes across the objectives to tackle both structural and systemic drivers of inequality. 

 The first session will focus on theme 1: 

Healthy and inclusive communities in London that have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.  
(e.g. reducing mental and physical health inequalities, support digital inclusion, invest in high street regeneration) 


RSN Greater London

We’ve had two new applications to join our network. I am booking chats with both to learn more.

I met with a group in Parliament who were campaigning against the ‘floating’ bus stops in cities like London. They would be keen on our support in raising more awareness of this. National Federation of the Blind of the UK https://www.nfbuk.org/

As mentioned above, the theme for the next Ministerial meeting is on Access to Work, and hearing your views on this to bring to the meeting. I hope to hear more on dates in the Disability Unit and RSN Chairs meeting this Wednesday the 29th, but just wanted to give you all a heads-up

We also should review those issues of concern to ourselves and how we can go about collecting useful info and identify routes to bring this to the attention of relevant people via the Disability Unit.

Our issues covered adult social care, unpaid carers, life-long lack of independence and capacity, the mental health act and its impact on practices of institutional care.







































































































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RSN Greater London June Notes

Reminder our monthly meeting is Tuesday, 9th June at 6pm.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82507632756?pwd=pQXbpop4UFbsb0KMG6oE0xMFDTvkoc.1

1. Disability Unit Updates


Timms Review update from steering committee

Please see an update from the co-chairs of the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Sharon Brennan, Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE and Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability at: The Timms Review - GOV.UK. Alternative formats (including BSL, Easy Read, Large Print and audio) are also available at this page.


This co-chair update contains details of a ‘Workshop in a Box’, which we are sharing on behalf of the Timms Review steering group. The Workshop in a Box is available to any organisation, group, or elected representative who wishes to participate, and aims to facilitate discussion about what PIP is for, what’s it like to apply for PIP, and how decisions are made about PIP. There are drop-in webinars on 10 and 16 June, where anyone interested can hear more about the workshops and ask questions. Further information, including on how to sign up to a webinar, is available on at Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment: run a workshop - GOV.UK. Alternative formats (including BSL, Easy Read, Large Print and audio) are also available at this page. Organisations will be able to submit insights from their workshops for 6 weeks, until 17 July.


The steering group would be very grateful if you would consider hosting one of these workshops using the resources provided.

Alan Milburn Report Young People and Work

This morning the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) officially published Alan Milburn's interim report for the independent review into Young People and Work.

You can view and download the official document directly on GOV.UK here: Young people and work: interim report

This concludes the discovery phase of the review; with final recommendations expected later this year.

Disabled people's experiences of harassment and victimisation

Page summary:
A qualitative evidence review that explores evidence on disabled people’s lived experiences of harassment and victimisation in the UK.

Disabled people's experiences of and access to justice in the UK

Page summary:
A qualitative evidence review that explores evidence on disabled people’s lived experiences of and access to justice.

Disabled people's lived experience in the UK: evidence reviews and reports

Page summary:
Reports on the lived experience of disabled people in the UK in areas including housing, jobs, relationships, education, social care and attitudes.

Timms Review Workshop in a Box

In our recent open letter we laid out our multi-strand evidence gathering and engagement programme designed to allow people and organisations to contribute to the Timms Review in a way that works for them. A varied approach will ensure that the Review is informed by both lived experience and wider evidence and underpins our commitment to co-produce the Review with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, carers, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders.


At the beginning of June 2026 we will be launching the fourth strand of this programme called ‘Workshop in a Box’. This is a tool that will allow organisations of all sizes to provide evidence from real people on the impact of PIP on their lives.


We are sharing this information now to give stakeholders time to consider whether they may wish to host a Workshop in a Box engagement session and to provide as much planning time as possible for those that do.


1. What is a Timms Review Workshop in a Box?

This engagement tool was used by NHS England in Change NHS 2024 engagement. It is a tool that is aimed at helping you facilitate a conversation about the Timms Review and the role PIP plays in people’s lives. The input we receive from this will form a key part of the co-production process of the Review.


We will provide downloadable materials on key areas of interest to the Steering Group to help your run your own events with the people you advocate for, the public or other stakeholders. We will also include a template to capture and share ideas and insights back with us to inform the Review.


The ‘Workshop in a Box’ will be open to anyone who would like to host a session. This includes, but is not limited to, DDPOs, disability or health charities, community groups, and elected representatives.


The Timms Review Workshop in a Box will be launched on 8 June 2026, with the window to return feedback until 17 July 2026. As a steering group we recognise the time and effort required to plan and facilitate these workshops, and this email is intended to provide as much notice as possible to support planning.


2. Our ask of you

The steering group recognises that charities, advisory networks and other grassroots organisations often hold greater trust with people with direct experience and knowledge of PIP. We also know that hearing from a wide range of voices, especially those least likely to engage with more formal Government evidence channels, is essential if we are to provide a PIP offer that is fair to all, including the most marginalised communities.


If you feel able to, we would like to ask you to reach out to your networks of disabled people or those with lived experience once the Workshop in a Box offer has launched, so we can ensure the steering group develops its recommendations from a broad foundation of lived, living and learned experience from across the UK.


In turn we will ensure that the Workshop in a Box materials are inclusive and provide flexibility on how to engage with people from different backgrounds and communities. The Workshop in a Box offer is intended to be an inclusive and flexible opportunity for disabled people and individuals with direct experience of PIP to shape the Review.


Workshops can be held in-person or online, with a range of options for what to cover, allowing sessions to fit the expertise of participants and run from 30 minutes to two hours at a time. Hosts are encouraged to draw on their own expertise and understanding of those that they know best to run sessions in a way that best meets participants’ needs.


The steering group is looking forward to hearing the views and experiences shared through these workshops and is grateful in advance for the time, knowledge and commitment involved in hosting them.

SEND Review Follow up Questions

Please find some answers from DfE to the specific questions raised. As mentioned throughout, the key has been ensuring that you all contribute your views and questions directly into the SEND consultation. Now the consultation has closed, please can future queries be directed to the standard DfE correspondence channel, details here: Contact the Department for Education (DfE) - GOV.UK

In addition, DU of course know just how important this topic is, and we will also provide you with any updates that we get from DfE on the SEND consultation next steps in due course.


What is happening to future EOTAS packages, especially those post-16 and post-19?


We note that Connect to Work is now being advertised for 16–18-year-olds, will that affect EHCP’s being continued?


What classes as complex needs - is there a breakdown or menu-card so parents understand which “box” their young person is being placed in?

Access to Work

Following the mention by Minister Timms at the meeting, this is the DWP press release and the Written Ministerial Statement on Access to Work.


Workplace Protections for Unpaid Carers Consultation

From one of the RSN Chairs

We wanted to make you aware that the Government has today launched a consultation on new workplace protections for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children, as part of the ongoing work to implement the Employment Rights Act. 

The consultation, launched by the Minister for Employment Rights Kate Dearden, sets out several proposals that could significantly change the rights of those with caring responsibilities in the workplace. These include introducing paid carer's leave for the first time, a new "right to return" to work after a period of intensive caring - similar to existing maternity leave protections - and new guidance to help workers and employers better understand carers' workplace protections. 

Currently, around three million unpaid carers balance work with caring responsibilities, with many forced to reduce their hours or leave the workforce entirely - at an estimated cost to the economy of £37 billion a year. The Government believes these proposals could help thousands return to work and support employers to attract and retain skilled staff. 

The consultation is open to everyone with a vested interest, and we would strongly encourage you to respond and share your views. The consultation has been published here and will close on 1 September 2026.   

You can also find the press release here for your reference, which sets out the full details of the consultation. 

How you can help  

We would be very grateful if you could share news of this consultation with your networks and membership, so that as many people as possible can contribute their views.   

We would also welcome your support in amplifying our social media content on this announcement. You can find our posts at the following links:

If you have any questions about the consultation or would like to discuss further, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.   

Thank you for your continued engagement on implementing the Employment Rights Act, and we look forward to hearing the views of you and your networks.  


RSN Greater London Updates


PIP Review Submission


Thanks to all who shared views on the PIP Review via our collaborative doc and elsewhere.

I hope you found enough ways to contribute and let me know how it was.

The docs that were sent are here: One around our own themes and one around their themes.



RSN Greater London Agenda

That list again:


Other Activities


I saw Minister Timms twice recently:


I have another Accessibility and Tech roundtable with Secretary of State Pat McFadden from Heathrow Airport

Also, I’m reviewing a Call For Evidence about Assistive Tech across Empowerment, Inclusion and Independence. This was announced by Minister Timms at the above APPG.


I was invited to a consultation by the Greater London AI Task Force on behalf of disabled communities.


The Disabled Londoner is a website to share public government news and related items in London.

thedisabledlondoner.org.uk


The ND Entrepreneur report is out


I’m at LTW, including Financial Inclusion with banking ambassador




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RSN Greater London September Notes

Updates from the Disability Unit (NOTE: these are in their words)

The Timms Review steering group is keen to discuss their emerging recommendations with you and would value your insight as they test and refine them. DWP are looking to organise a session on 1 October, 1.30-3pm, for this discussion with RSN Chairs and an invite will come from DWP shortly. It will be attended by some members of the Timms Review steering group, alongside a few DWP officials who will support the logistics of the meeting. DWP will share more information about the emerging recommendations before the meeting.

This session will allow all RSN Chairs to feed in and is separate to the other, longer 'Shaping Recommendations' workshops with the public that some of you or your members may have applied to be part of.

Meeting summaries from Ministerial meetings with the RSN Chairs were published:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-unit-regional-stakeholder-network-meeting-summaries

The next RSN Chairs and DU meeting is 23 September - we have lots to cover as we should be having two guest speakers (including from the Law Commission on transport accessiblity) and to get your initial high levels thoughts on the Access to Work theme please (DWP officials will also be attending). The Minister's Office should also be sending out the invite for October for you to feedback on this theme too please. Just a reminder that on this occasion though, the detailed written feedback would ideally follow by 25 September please so DWP can have this sooner.

This is the press release after the Prime Minister announced today (18 August) that the government will lift time restrictions on concessionary bus passes. From 1 April 2027, people who hold a disabled bus pass can travel on buses for free, no matter the time of day. www.gov.uk/government/news/free-bus-travel-247-for-disabled-people-as-prime-minister-takes-further-action-to-ease-cost-of-living

The Disability Unit is looking into how the RSN can engage on the Casey Commission social care Big Conversation.

Please also find an update from DWP on the query around the reasons why some people have had their PIP reviews extended by 3 years, and the impact on things like Blue Badges:

Please also find an update from DWP on the query around sole traders and Disability Confident reform:

Find some recently published foresight research (a report by the National Centre for Social Research on how the needs and experiences of disabled people will evolve over the next 5, 10 and 20 years):www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-foresight-research-future-trends-for-disabled-people

RSN Greater London and Other Updates

The Greater London Assembly (GLA) are launching their Action Plan for Disability on Thursday. They have shared an exec summary ahead of time. Headlines are:

Poverty

Policing and Safety

Housing and Planning

Transport

Employment and Skills

GLA Ways of Working

Agenda and Actions

1. Any questions of information to follow up on the updates above?

There's no problem to bring them up in your own time later on, via email or online here.

2. Any further views on Access To Work for the next Minister meeting?

3. What would be your top 3 themes to share to the Disability Unit?

We had a few such as:

Meeting Summary (note this is AI-generated by Zoom, so there will be mistakes!)

Key Outcomes

The meeting surfaced deep, systemic failures across PIP assessments, Access to Work administration, social care funding, and carer recognition. Members shared firsthand accounts of benefit misuse by local authorities, chronic delays and rule changes in Access to Work reimbursements, and the near-total absence of support for unpaid family carers. The group aligned on priority themes to bring to upcoming minister and disability unit meetings, including PIP reform, Access to Work flexibility, transport accessibility, employment pathways, and carers policy. Marc will represent these views at a PIP steering group meeting on 1 October and a disability unit meeting on 23 September.

PIP Reform & Assessment Failures

Local Authority Benefit Clawback & Financial Assessment

Access to Work: Systemic Failures

Employment, Education & Post-School Transitions

Carers: Recognition, Pay & System Failures

Transport & Physical Accessibility

Upcoming Meetings & Governance

Action Items