PLEASE APPLY NOW

Friday 20^th March, 2020

A letter to faith leaders in Barnet

Gentlemen and Ladies

Few will know better than you the challenges faced by our communities at this time. Uncertainty, disbelief, fear, panic, misery, separation, loneliness and possibly sorrow are rife; sadly they may increase.

I expect you will view this first weekend without public acts of worship with trepidation. We all draw strength from the communities we serve. Having public contact removed may leave some of you feeling emasculated and even irrelevant. I believe nothing could be farther from the truth, and that now represents an unparalleled opportunity for faith groups to show a fresh purpose and prominence. To take the lead. To provide a shelter and a place of solice where necessary. To provide meaningful opportunities for those out of school and out of employment.

Quite how this may be implemented is for others to determine, but we all need to remain brave, and certain of the faith that binds us, and the truth that gives us confidence to do all things under the law. Knowing many of you well, I have no doubt that you are taking local measures individually.

Please remember that my thoughts are with you. I have said often that I think the role of a faith leader can be relentless, burdensome, and very lonely at times. I am sure you will support each other as well as caring for your communities.

Over the last fourteen years, I have met many of you. I have promised in public to pray for you. I have prayed for you in the past, and I assure you that my wife, Brigid and I will continue to pray for you, not least during this especially difficult period. I urge you to continue to pray for The Queen, and all the Royal Family, as well as for those in Government and authority under Her.

My family motto reminds me that all will be well: ‘Deus alit eos’, and with your continuing efforts, and those of your communities, it will be. I have been planting salad and vegetable seeds in trays to prove that better times are not far off, as well as to provide for the future. I expect you been doing much more imaginative things!

Sincerely
Martin Russell

Dear Friends and specifically faith leaders of places of worship.

In these challenging times it’s to you that people of faith (and some of no faith) are looking towards for inspiration and meaning and from all we hear you are responding magnificently.

We are fully aware of your current workload so don’t wish to add unnecessary but it’s very important that we know, and our society appreciates the values we uphold and how we respond to a crisis.

So with this in mind, we are reaching out to everyone to get an understanding of what is happening on the ground and respectfully urge you to please complete the short information request and respond here . The information being collected is going to be held by barnettogether.org.uk and will not be made public.
Thank You

Friends, Below is the context and reason for this request

Barnet Multi Faith Forum (BMFF) are working under the umbrella of Barnet Together,  https://barnettogether.org.uk/   to coordinate a response to the current crisis.

Together we are liaising directly with the Local Authority, Public Health bodies in putting in place a Boroughwide response by establishing a Community Task Force.

We have already held very positive meetings and through our own BMFF website we hope all information will be uploaded.

Please see links below to the local response, (volunteer support information will follow).

Part of the remit will be to provide some cohesion to map the local response.  This will enable us, centrally to signpost and to assist groups to continue to deliver services to our vulnerable residents during the Covid-19 outbreak

As this progresses, we will be dealing with more and more vulnerable families/residents, so it makes sense to plan ahead.

These plans are inevitably going to evolve over time, but we wanted to start by reinforcing efforts around food provision and trying to help find solutions for issues you may be experiencing or are expecting.

People will need support and faith organisations will play a huge part for so many of our residents.

We have also launched a Borough-wide Fundraising initiative through Young Barnet Foundation’s online portal, funds will be distributed by a steering group to groups on the ground, so it is important that we have your detailed information.  Community Response Fund  *- please share far and wide.

Hopefully, by working together, we can ensure that Barnet’s most vulnerable residents are cared for in this unprecedented situation.

Please let me know if there is further action, we can help co-ordinate in the short term and please take a moment to respond to the information request for

Thank you and we will keep you updated as to the Barnet Together response in due course.

USEFUL LINKS

Barnet Borough COVID-19

IFN website

NHS COVID-19 

BMFF COVID-19 updates

Stay well safe and secure
Barnet Multi Faith Forum Co-chairs
Esmond Rosen & Trevor Alexander.