Barnwood Connect – June 2026
Welcome to the June edition of Barnwood Connect
One week it’s blazing hot, the next it’s thunderstorms and hailstones. Have we ever seen a summer like it? When the world around us (quite literally) feels changeable and uncertain, it can be hard to settle and stay focused on what matters.
But a lot has happened since our last Barnwood Connect – in partnership with so many motivated people, all navigating the challenges and seeing what each day brings.
So, let’s take a moment to catch up on some summer highlights. Below, you’ll find inspiring Funded Partner stories, news of the launch of a beautiful and interactive digital hub for Access to Nature (co-created with colleagues across the sector), and a link to our latest Impact Report. It reflects what’s possible when people, communities and organisations work together to challenge barriers and create change.
Since our last update, the Government’s SEND reform consultation has concluded, with a report and response submitted. Alongside this, we gathered people’s views on the Timms Review of PIP, with a wide range of perspectives now shared.
We also took time to celebrate Barnwood Circle members. Our first cohort, some of whom helped create the Circle from the very start, have come to the end of their membership. After more than three years of shaping the Trust’s work, it was a day of joy, reflection and connection – and a reminder of the passion and energy that continues to drive change across Gloucestershire. We look forward to staying connected in new ways.
If you have questions about our work or ideas to share, we’d love to hear from you.
Jess Waterman Head of Engagement & Insight
P.S. The Funded Partner Programme is now open for Expressions of Interest see below!
The Access to Nature Hub is now live
Everyone should have the freedom to enjoy nature. Yet many disabled people and people with mental health conditions face barriers that limit their access.
These barriers can take many forms. They may be physical, such as inaccessible paths, facilities or transport. They may also relate to information, confidence, cost or feeling welcome in a space. For many people, clear and accessible information before a visit can make the difference between attending or deciding not to go at all.
Over the last four years, Barnwood Trust has been working alongside disabled people, people with mental health conditions, nature organisations and accessibility experts to better understand these barriers and explore what meaningful change looks like.
Through this work, organisations consistently told us they wanted practical support to help them improve access and inclusion.
The Access to Nature Hub was created in response to that need. It brings together learning and offers practical support for organisations looking to take action, learn from others and create more inclusive experiences in nature.
The Hub brings together practical guidance, tools, lived experience insights and real-life examples to support change. Whether you manage, influence or volunteer in nature spaces, the Hub is designed to support you wherever you are on your accessibility journey.
Explore the Hub at www.accesstonaturehub.org and join a growing movement to make nature more accessible for everyone.
Black Mental Health Conference 2026: The Black Man’s Burden
On 27 May, Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester hosted the Black Mental Health Conference 2026: The Black Man’s Burden; a powerful, full day of truth-telling, conversation, art, music and collective healing. The day opened with live drumming and poetry before unfolding into a series of talks, keynotes and panel discussions that didn’t shy away from the hard truths. Dr Leroy Logan, former Met Police Superintendent, spoke about leadership and Black mental health. Chris Dzikiti from the Care Quality Commission addressed Black men’s experiences of mental health services. Charles Brown brought a psychoanalytical lens to the intersection of addiction and racism. A conversation about the Grenfell Tower trauma sat alongside reflections on Windrush experiences and Black therapy groups right here in Gloucester. Throughout the day, Celestine Walcott-Gordon wove live music through the programme, from “Many Rivers to Cross” to a closing “A Change Is Gonna Come”. holding space for grief, joy and possibility all at once.
Barnwood Trust was proud to be part of this day in partnership with Restore Black and Black South West Network. Our collaboration has also included exploring research into Black mental health and curating resources that Restore Black will be sharing soon. We are continuing to work alongside Audrey James and the Restore Black to build on what was started, supporting Black-led, community-rooted responses that are properly resourced and sustained. There is more to come!
Send reforms statement and report
The SEND system urgently needs reform. While the Government has set out proposals to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND, Barnwood Trust believes that parents, carers, and young people are the experts in understanding what needs to change. They must be central to shaping these reforms.
This position is informed by engagement with over 40 parents, carers, children and young people. We are grateful to everyone who shared their experiences, hopes and concerns.
2025 Impact Report
In a year shaped by collaboration and partnership, we worked with 119 organisations and awarded £6 million in grants to support disabled people and people with mental health conditions.
From individual grants helping people access everyday essentials and opportunities, to funding and investing in local organisations, the report highlights the many ways change is happening across the county.
But as the report shows, money is only part of the story.
Throughout 2025, we have continued to develop our role as an agent for social change—bringing people together, listening to lived experience, and working collectively to challenge barriers and create opportunities.
Funded Partner stories – Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) & Dementia Awareness
Dementia support in Gloucestershire: Help before diagnosis
Across Gloucestershire, many people affected by dementia are waiting too long for a diagnosis — and for the support that should come with it.
This year’s Dementia Action Week highlights a stark reality: 1 in 3 people with dementia do not have a formal diagnosis. For individuals and families, that can mean months — sometimes years — without clarity, information, or support.
Across Gloucestershire, Barnwood Trust funds organisations stepping into that gap. Their work shows that support does not need to wait for a diagnosis — and that connection, creativity and practical help can make a meaningful difference at every stage.
Read our funded partner story to find out how you or someone you care about can access support now if you’re worried about memory loss, waiting for a diagnosis, or living with dementia.
How Funded Partners in Gloucestershire are supporting special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) through a time of change
Across Gloucestershire, more families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are reaching out for help earlier, as uncertainty around proposed reforms affects confidence in the system. With 1.7 million children now identified as SEND nationally — and that number still rising — many are facing long waits and growing anxiety about what support their child will receive.
Read our funded partner story to find out how some of our funded partners are providing early, preventative and therapeutic support for children, families and schools across the county and what learning has come from the projects.
Funded Partner Programme open
The Funded Partner Programme multi-year funding is now open for Expressions of Interest. The deadline to submit an EOI is Monday, 20 July 2026. Prospective applicants are invited to register for one of our application support events to learn more. Further details, including how to sign up, are available on our Funded Partner Programme page.
If you need application support schedule a 20 minute appointment or call with a member of the Funding Team for specific questions about your Expression of Interest – until Thursday 16th July, Online and Overton House
In the first round of 2026, awarded in May, 11 applications received funding totalling £1,084,093.
Small Grants
Due to a high volume of applications received this year, our available budget for Small Grants has now been fully allocated, and the Small Grants programme will remain closed for the rest of 2026. Funding was awarded to 24 organisations in this round.
Accessibility Fund
We are currently in the third of four rounds of the Accessibility Fund, with final decisions for this round due to be made in August. To date, we have awarded funding to 11 organisations, totalling £1,228,228 from an overall budget of £2 million.
Individual Grants
Our Individual Grants Team works closely with Citizens Advice North & West Gloucestershire through their Advice and Access team, who help individuals obtain support and guidance. This includes signposting people to relevant sources of individual funding.
We are now working with 18 community partners across the county, all of whom play a vital role in supporting individuals to access appropriate services and assistance.
In 2026, so far we have awarded a total of £580,608 across 366 applications.
Sharing experiences of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Last week, we submitted evidence to the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The Government is currently reviewing PIP and invited people to share their experiences of the benefit, including what is working well, what challenges they face, and what changes they would like to see.
To contribute to the review, Barnwood held one-to-one conversations and focus groups with 15 people, including members of Barnwood Circle and Barnwood Trust staff. We brought together the themes and experiences shared and submitted them as evidence to the review, where they will be considered alongside feedback from people and organisations across the country.
People told us that PIP plays an important role in their lives. While some use it to cover additional costs associated with disability or long-term health conditions, others rely on it to help pay for everyday essentials.
One person said: “PIP should be giving people back more control of their lives, which means you can make your own choices, and this means you have some self-worth and purpose in life as well. This would mean that you can live and not just exist.”
Many people also expressed concerns about potential changes to PIP and the impact these could have on their lives. One person told us: “I don’t want the government to take away my benefit because then I wouldn’t have any money and I don’t know what I would do.”
Several people spoke about negative perceptions of PIP and misunderstandings about who can receive it and what it is intended for.
People also shared mixed experiences of the application and assessment process. While some felt supported and respected by assessors, many described feeling misunderstood, not believed, or struggling to explain how their condition affects them.
As one person put it: “It’s like guilty until proven disabled.”
Another said: “They don’t know what my condition is and how it affects my life daily. I was extremely sad not because of the money but because they didn’t take into consideration how it affects my day-to-day living.”
We are grateful to everyone who shared their experiences and perspectives to help inform the review.
Feedback welcome
We want to learn as much as we can about what works, and what doesn’t. If we can make this newsletter better, please let us know.
If you want to get in touch with us, please email us at info@barnwoodtrust.org