We have over 320 children in foster care in Barnet therefore it’s incredibly important we raise awareness and show our support for this essential part of our community. Join us in showcasing the honourable commitment of foster carers in the local area by using the hashtag #ThisIsFostering
Jane, a Barnet resident, explains how fostering has changed her life:
Barnet has the biggest care network in London, with over 10,000 people working in adult social care across 160 care providers, including 83 care homes. This has been an extremely difficult time for everyone working in the caring profession and I would like us all to take a moment to recognise the massive commitment they have shown and thank them for their dedication.
The council is contributing £50,000 into the Barnet Community Response Fund and is also committing up to £25,000 to match pound-for-pound public donations. Barnet Community Response Fund has been set up by Barnet Together to help food banks, small charities and local organisations working with communities most at risk and affected by the crisis.
While need is increasing across Barnet due to crisis, donations have been badly hit, meaning that local Barnet charities need the support of Barnet residents more than ever.
The 2.6 Challenge is a national initiative to support charities on Sunday 26th April, the day the London Marathon would have taken place and raised millions of pounds for UK charities.
The service, commissioned jointly by the five North Central London Boroughs and run by the charity Rethink Mental Illness, will offer support to anyone in those five boroughs who has been affected by suicide. This includes anyone who has experienced suicidal thoughts either now or in the past, their family, friends and carers and anyone who has been bereaved by suicide.
Proud to Care London, a partnership between councils across the capital, is highlighting positions available now that will ultimately help the NHS save lives by providing essential care for vulnerable and elderly residents in the community, particularly those recovering from coronavirus.
This year over 94 per cent of children who applied on time for a place at a Barnet primary school received one of their top three choices, and almost 84 per cent received an offer at their first choice of school.
Councillor David Longstaff, Chairman of the Children, Education and Safeguarding Committee, said: “I’m extremely pleased that once again every pupil who applied on time in Barnet has received an offer of a primary school place.
Councillor Cohen, Chairman of the Environment Committee, said: “We would like to thank our front-line and operational staff for their hard work and commitment during these unprecedented times, which has allowed us to return to weekly collections so rapidly whilst also ensuring weekly black refuse bin collections continue. We would also like to thank all those residents and their children who left pictures and messages of support on their bins, which were greatly appreciated.”
Over the weekend, work has continued at the Essential Supplies Hub. By Monday evening 471 packages had been sent out to residents with a further 135 parcels going to Homeless Action Barnet, 354 meals to Barnet Hospital and 42 meals to North Middlesex University Hospital. 21 large food bank deliveries were also made.
With the peak of the pandemic in the UK approaching, and the forecast for warm weather, it is more important than ever that residents adhere to social distancing advice when outside their homes.
Council Leader, Councillor Dan Thomas, said: “The way we live our lives has changed dramatically in recent weeks as the nation pulls together to keep the most vulnerable safe.