The Barnet Community Response Fund has awarded £50,000 to 28 of Barnet’s local voluntary, community and faith organisations, with grants of up to £2000 each.

Set up in partnership with Barnet Together and Barnet Council, the Barnet Community Response Fund enables local organisations to continue providing frontline support to those most in need.

Barnet Council contributed £50,000 to the fund to support the work of food banks, small charities and local organisations who are working with communities most at risk and affected by the Covid-19 crisis.

The fund has now raised and awarded over £76,000 to help local people through this challenging time.

John McCafferty, CEO of Community Focus: All Inclusive Arts Centre, said they will use the funds to support their Arts at Home initiative: ‘This funding will allow us to offer free online creative sessions and social meetings to support vulnerable Barnet residents to create and engage from home. We also intend to strengthen partnerships with other organisations through our Arts at Home programme and establish a positive focal point through these uncertain times.’

The successful applicants were agreed by the funding panel, which includes representatives from the Barnet Together partnership, as well as Cllr Caroline Stock, Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Sara Conway and Cllr Alex Pragar.

In a joint statement, Cllr Caroline Stock, Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Sara Conway and Cllr Alex Pragar, said: ‘We are delighted to have the opportunity through the Barnet Together Community Response Fund to support our local groups who are making such a positive difference for residents across the borough. It is great to see our local communities doing so much to help people in such challenging times.’

As well as the contribution from Barnet Council, the fund also relies on donations from the public. Small grants are released on a rolling basis for organisations to apply and secure the funds needed to continue delivering vital services during the Covid-19 crisis. To donate or to apply, visit https://www.youngbarnetfoundation.org.uk/coronavirusExternal link

The Barnet Community Response FundExternal link was set up by Barnet Together, to help food banks, small charities and local organisations working with communities most at risk and affected by the crisis. The fund is open for donations and applications.

Barnet TogetherExternal link is a collaboration between Inclusion Barnet, Volunteering Barnet and the Young Barnet Foundation. Together we offer high quality training, volunteering support and provide vital resources and advice to Barnet’s community organisations. We unite local people, charities and businesses to grow and strengthen local partnerships enabling our borough to innovate and thrive.

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