While we must remain alert to the threat of the virus, we can do more outdoors than previous restrictions allowed.

North London Waste Authority (NLWA) is calling on Barnet residents to stop and think carefully before rushing to visit one of north London’s reuse and recycling centres (RRCs).

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 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.

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.

If you're out in a park, please follow the government’s guidance on social distancing and stay at least two metres apart from each other.

Libraries

All libraries in the borough will be closed from 10am on Saturday 21 March until further notice. We apologise for any inconvenience, but the safety of our staff and customers is our priority.

We have extended the loan time on all the books and CDs you have borrowed for six weeks and removed all fines. Any fines due on DVDs from this time will be waived when they are returned.

Stop Smoking London designed the award-winning “Amazing Things Happen” campaign based on insight with London smokers, which discovered many Londoners are tired of hearing about the harm smoking does - they want to hear more about the benefits of quitting. Their research also underlined the strong social element to smoking, with three quarters of smokers interviewed saying that smoking is “normal amongst me and my friends”.