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Every year, nationally, it is estimated that more than £18billion of benefits go unclaimed. This issue is getting worse year on year (21% increase in 2023). This means in Barnet that millions are going unclaimed.

Barnet primary, secondary and special schools and maintained nurseries are due to receive net windfalls of around £17,000 each for the next two years following a decision at Barnet Council. The money has become available because Barnet Council Pension Fund, into which local authority maintained school support staff across the borough pay, is doing well and is currently funded at 127 per cent required levels.

But what is community participation? We know that residents should be at the heart of what we do and that means as a council connecting with the insights, skills and drive of local communities - going to where people are, listening, learning through doing and being transparent about what we can and can’t change. Designing solutions for problems that communities face in partnership means we will improve the efficiency of our services and better tackle inequalities.

Barnet Council’s Cabinet last night (6 February) approved a recommended balanced budget for the next financial year, as well as proposals which include a record additional £97m for road and pavement improvement works over the next five years.

For National Apprenticeship Week 2024, Barnet Council has launched a new fund to cover the cost of apprenticeships for local employers.  

Barnet Council is proud to announce the young winners of its annual Children’s Mental Health Week Competition. Eighteen schools took part in the poster competition, which was one of a series of local awareness-raising initiatives launched by Barnet Council to mark Children’s Mental Health Week – a national event that ran between 5 and 11 February.

The Mayor of Barnet opened a new inclusive and accessible playground yesterday (13 Feb) at Victoria Recreation Ground in East Barnet enabling people of all ages and abilities to play together.

Families from across Barnet have enjoyed an afternoon of song, dance and other traditional festivities to mark the beginning of Lunar New Year. Communities came together to bid farewell to the Year of the Rabbit and welcome the Year of the Dragon during a special celebration event held at Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre on Thursday (15 February).

Our journey to becoming one of London’s most sustainable boroughs has been a remarkable feat for all involved. Only 18 months ago we were ranked 0 in the Climate Emergency UK’s Scorecard, and now we are among the country’s top 18% of local authorities for our progress towards becoming a net zero council by 2030 and borough by 2042. With a score of 46%, Barnet outperformed 114 other councils in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Barnet Council has launched Safe Havens as part of its work to combat Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). This pioneering programme aims to provide practical support and refuge to individuals, particularly women and girls, who may feel intimidated, threatened, harassed, or unwell while out and about in the evening.