As part of the campaign’s ‘faces of Barnet’ art project, shoppers had their photo taken in the Barnet Council photo booth before leaving a comment to say what they love most about living in the borough’s diverse community. Students from Friern Barnet’s Holly Park Primary School choir sang for shoppers at the event and also took part in the campaign themselves.

Councillor Dan Thomas, Leader of Barnet Council, said: “It was heartening to see such a great response from shoppers at Brent Cross to our campaign. We have a proud history of people from many different communities living happily side by side. We want to celebrate the fantastic groups and individuals who make Barnet such a great place to live. The results of this campaign show that people who work, live or study in Barnet do too.”

Fitness instructor Sphinx Patterson, from Hendon Central, said: “I’ve lived in Barnet for a number of years. The people are very nice, very congenial. I love the parks in Barnet, and the scenery. There are a lot of gyms in Barnet, and nice places where you can eat, shop, drink… There’s lots of diversity in Barnet. All I can say is: big up, Barnet!”

Mum-of-two Intizar Mohamed said: “We love Barnet. The activities at Unitas Youth Zone, Burnt Oak, are amazing for the kids. We are there every day after school, and some weekends.”

Together, we are Barnet is a joint initiative of Barnet Council working in partnership with NHS Barnet Clinical Commissioning Group, Metropolitan Police, Saracens Rugby Club, West London Business, Inclusion Barnet, Groundwork, Federation of Small Businesses, Argent, Middlesex University, the Department for Work and Pensions, Barnet and Southgate College, Brent Cross Shopping Centre, and Volunteering Barnet.

You can still take part in our Together, we are Barnet campaign. Just upload a selfie and tell us what you love about Barnet’s diverse community to become part of our art project, celebrating the many faces of our borough: https://engage.barnet.gov.uk/togetherbarnetphotos External link

To learn more about the Together, we are Barnet campaign, visit: engage.barnet.gov.uk/togetherbarnet