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

Thank you for your generous support

Through the generosity of Barnet residents, over £10,000 has been raised so far in the Community Response Fund which Young Barnet Foundation is leading for Barnet Together to support the sector response to Covid. This has resulted in two rounds of grant giving to date, to small local organisations supporting those with the greatest needs.

However, we need to keep the impetus going on this so I'd be very grateful if you could all give this initiative your support.

Thank you for your help, it is making a real difference.

Dongles for Young People in Barnet

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-details