Category Archives: Covid-19
A Message for Ramadan
Dear Friends,
We hope that you are keeping well through these challenging times and wanted to thank you for following the Government’s social distancing rules.
Ramadan is a time when Muslim families connect with loved ones, self-reflect and spread kindness. The current pandemic has dramatically changed how people observe the holy month, and staying at home will mean changing and adapting usual religious and cultural practices. Working together in Barnet and across the country, we have managed to reduce the spread of infection and we just need to continue practicing social distancing for longer now to protect those most vulnerable and elderly in our communities.
We fully appreciate that it’ll be hard to stay at home, not sharing evening meals with extended family and friends or not attending places of worship, but it is important that we do so and save lives. Using technology may help to stay connected with your family, friends and the wider religious community at this time.
It is also important to be aware that health services across North Central London are open and receiving people with non-Covid symptoms. See here for more details.
We have seen an increase in deaths locally due to Covid over the last month or so, but we are also seeing higher than usual number of deaths from other causes, as are the rest of the country. It is therefore extremely important to access emergency care and ongoing care for long-term conditions to ensure you all stay safe and well.
Ramadan Mubarak
Cllr Caroline Stock, Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board and Dr Tamara Djuretic, Director of Public Health, Barnet Council and the Royal Free Group
Dongles for Young People in Barnet
COVID-19, has turned life upside down and inside out for everyone, including over 50 school children who have no access to the internet. For most, this might not be a problem but for these children, the tap of learning has been turned off.
This scheme is working with Barnet schools and charities to supply 50 children with 3 months of prepaid data to enable them to continue their studies.
Please support the campaign.
We can all do the 2.6 Challenge – 26 April
Let’s all get involved in campaign we are currently running as part of The 2.6 Challenge.
With hundreds of events postponed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, thousands of charities have had to reduce or stop services. The 2.6 Challenge is a simple way for the public to support the UK’s charities. The challenge is taking place on Sunday 26 April, the day when the Virgin Money London Marathon would have taken place.
A 2.6 can be any activity from running 2.6 miles, holding an online workout with 26 of your friends, or doing 26 press-ups. If anyone wants to lead a Zoom challenge for Barnet Home Heroes, then you could challenge your team to take part – jugglers, keepie uppers, skippers – the list is endless!
We need to give this a nice big push. Remember 82% of Charity Funding nationally goes to only 4% of organisations, our small local groups, that are working at the heart of our community are always at the back of the queue but always first to stand up and support their communities when their help is needed, just as they are doing right now! Remember all monies raised will go to support the community we all serve!
We are asking people to get involved in the 2.6 challenge to support the Barnet Community Response Fund, which is supporting charities and community groups to support residents in communities across Barnet. Further information can be found here. The Barnet Community Response Fund is a longer term response to Covid and I will be in touch again next week to ask you to support the longer term effort.
We have put together some materials to use on social media and would be very grateful if you could share amongst your networks and promote. I have attached the relevant graphics to use to this email. Below are some examples of tweets to use which can be modified as necessary:
Support the Barnet Community Response Fund with your #TwoPointSixChallenge! Proceeds will support community groups and charities in Barnet to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Click the link for more info and donate now! @BarnetTogether #BarnetHomeHero
Barnet needs you! Use your #TwoPointSixChallenge to support the Barnet Community Response Fund who are helping community groups and charities e.g. providing goods for food banks and #PPE for volunteers!
Read more here
@BarnetTogether #BarnetHomeHero
Want to support the Barnet Community Response Fund, which is helping charities and community groups to support residents in Barnet? Follow the link to find out how you can help with your #TwoPointSixChallenge!
@BarnetTogether @BarnetCouncil #BarnetHomeHero
Time is of the essence so we would be grateful if you could get your comms teams on this today. Together, we can make a difference in Barnet.
Best wishes
On behalf of Barnet Together
Caroline, Katrina and Janet
2.6-challenge-Community-REsponse-fund-detailsNeighbourly Community Fund
Neighbourly are providing micro-grants of up to £400 to support good causes that are helping communities affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. This may include, but not be limited to, elderly people, those on low incomes and people at risk of food insecurity. Donate to the Neighbourly Fund and further information.
Best wishes for Ramadan
For the first time in many centuries religious festivals, observances and celebrations are being experience in very different ways due to the impact of COVID-19 and lockdown.
During the past few weeks, Easter for Christians and Passover for Jews were experienced and shared via streaming and digital technology. It was both very different but uniquely special in many unexpected ways!
On Thursday the Muslim annual observance of Ramadan begins – Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next. For most Muslin this involves fasting from sunrise to sunset.
Many Muslims work in frontline NHS & care services and due to the current pandemic, the long hours, plus the use of extensive PPE, the observance of fasting will be very difficult. We wish our Muslim brothers and sisters best wishes during Ramadan.
For information about Ramadan at home visit, or working visit https://mcb.org.uk/latest/
If you would like to make contact with a Barnet based Mosque, or Imam please contact: info@barnetmultifaithforum.org
A message of support from David Dangoor DL, Chair of HM Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London’s Faith Council
Dear member of the London Faith & Belief Community Awards network,
In these uncertain times, London’s diverse faith and belief institutions are facing unprecedented challenges that impact their spiritual, pastoral and social work. However, we are also witnessing an unsurprising upsurge in good will and neighbourly love. This is a moment in our history when London’s gratitude for the work of faith and belief communities across London, on whom so many now depend, will really be felt.
As a recipient of recognition through the London Faith & Belief Community Awards, your work is ever more important and I am certain you are doing everything within your power to support those in your local communities and religious communities, especially the elderly, most isolated and vulnerable. On behalf of Sir Ken Olisa, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, I want to thank you for your selfless acts of charity and for inspiring hope across the Capital.
I attach a letter to Deputy Lieutenants from Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London which he has asked me to share with you, as well as a message from the Queen.
With best wishes for the health and safety of you and your loved ones.
David Dangoor
Chair of HM Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London’s Council on Faith
Message from our Mayor about the Barnet response to the COVID-19 outbreak
Visit barnet.go.uk/covid19 for local information updates