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London’s Deputy Mayor Sophie Linden visited Barnet Council’s offices for an update on the council’s pioneering pilot scheme to tackle domestic abuse in the borough, along with its partners at the neighbouring councils of Brent and Enfield. Called the ‘Culturally Integrated Family Approach’ (CIFA), the wide-reaching scheme provides tailored services that recognise differences in cultures and ethnicities to improve the support available to those experiencing domestic abuse.

The London Borough of Barnet has marked Armed Forces Day (25 June) with a parade and flag raising ceremony in partnership with the RAF Museum, to pay tribute to the Armed Forces, Cadets Services, veterans, and their families in the borough.

Barnet’s population is the second largest of London’s borough’s, with Croydon recording the highest number of residents. The Census data shows the population is split into 188,400 (48.4%) males and 200,900 (51.6%) females.

Following the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic small businesses are particularly vulnerable with supply chain issues affecting 54% or 2.1 million across the UK in the last 12 months. Micro-businesses are the engine of Barnet’s economy making up 94% of the borough’s 25,840 active enterprises.

Local organisation BOOST helped 387 Barnet borough’s residents into work during 2021-22, the most people ever achieved in a single year since the project’s launch in 2015, according to the latest figures published. The Barnet Council-backed employment, benefit advice, skills and wellbeing project which helps Barnet residents, supported 16,300 locals with employment issues, and 9,222 individuals who needed financial help with housing and benefits.

Barnet Council provides adult social care support to more than 5,300 residents. The council has committed to investing £40m to open extra care homes over the next couple of years. The launch of the council’s new adult social care engagement and co-production strategy will ensure that everyone in the borough can have a say in how council services can be run best to meet the changing needs of people who draw on care and support and for those who give care to friends or relatives.

The £1.2m of funding was awarded to the council after it successfully bid for a portion of money as part of the Home Office’s Trusted Relationships Fund. Barnet was one of 11 authorities in the country selected for the funding which is aimed at helping social workers, police, nurses and other professionals form close, protective relationships with children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation, gang crime or relationship abuse.

This year has seen the expansion of the new nationwide system for measuring students’ attainment (using a points scale of 9-1) to other subjects alongside English and Maths from last year, and it is the third year of the implementation of ‘Attainment 8’ and ‘Progress 8’, which measures the achievement of a pupil across eight qualifications including English and Mathematics. Results so far show the average Attainment 8 score in Barnet is 58 points compared to the national average in 2017 of 46 points. This is a four point increase on Barnet’s score in 2017.

Residents are being strongly encouraged to sign up now for one of the sessions online. Councillor Richard Cornelius, the Leader of Barnet Council, will inform residents about the council’s priorities for the borough, which have been laid out in the blueprint for its 2019-2024 corporate plan. People will then be able to give their feedback and influence the future direction of the plan.

Local people know their area best. That’s why, when the review starts, the LGBCE will be asking local residents to give their views on a range of issues to help shape the review.  The Commission wants to hear from local people and organisations on: