April News

This month's newsletter is full of news and updates, including information about local services and events: 

• Healthy Heart
• Free cookery classes - 22 & 29 April 
• Royal Free - hospital expansion 
• Edgware Community Fund - deadline 27 April 
• Pharmacy First 

As always, you can contact us if you would like to share your views on health and social care in Barnet.

Healthy Heart 

Our Healthy Heart team have been busy collaborating with peers in Barnet’s African, Caribbean and South Asian communities to promote heart health.

On 13 March, we were delighted to host an event bringing together statutory and community partners. This was a lovely opportunity to celebrate everything we have achieved together, and to plan next steps for the Healthy Heart project - see photo above. A big thankyou to everyone who attended, especially our external speakers - Hawa Abdi from the Somali Centre of Excellence, Neena Patel from Barnet Asian Women's Association and Candice Bryan from Barnet Council. 

In other news, in the last few weeks, our Healthy Heart team supported the Meritage Centre's well-attended International Women’s Day celebration. We also ran a heart health workshop for the Single Homeless Project, and plan to run a further session with them on healthy eating.

We're delighted the Healthy Heart project has secured funding until January 2026, and are currently planning a number of activities for the coming year. 

Free cookery classes

If you’d like to learn how to cook simple, delicious, cultural dishes, why not join free cook & share classes at Grahame Park Community Centre, Colindale, NW9 5UY on 22 or 29 April? Booking is essential: 

• Call Filomena on 07940 571 676
• Email filomena@breadnbutter.org.uk

All the meat will be halal, with all ingredients and equipment provided. It’s an opportunity to meet others in your community, and if you like you can just come to eat lunch prepared by other residents. The classes are being organised by Breadnbutter and Notting Hill Genesis, and more will be happening over the summer.

Royal Free expansion approved

Camden Council has approved plans to construct two new vascular theatres at the front of the Royal Free London Hospital, to help treat patients with certain heart problems. 

The work will involve extensions to the hospital's second and third floors. The hybrid theatres will be equipped to conduct open surgery as well as having x-ray facilities for interventional radiology procedures.

The aims of the project are to reduce waiting times for cardiovascular surgery and improve outcomes for patients' heart health. To find out more, see the Royal Free's priorities for cardiovascular services,

Edgware Community Fund

The Edgware Town Centre Community Fund is back for 2025. Grants of up to £3,000 are available for local initiatives, and the deadline for applications is 27 April. 

Last year, £26,900 was awarded to 12 community groups, including the Mill Hill Community Choir, The Hive Foundation and Stonegrove Community Trust. To apply, email edgware@ballymoregroup.com to request a pre-application form, or complete the form online here. 

Pharmacy First

Did you know, you can get expert advice and treatment for common health issues from your local pharmacy?

The NHS in North Central London has produced a video to help explain how this works - see above. For example, since January 2024, as part of the Pharmacy First service, most pharmacies can supply prescription-only medicines without the need to visit a GP. They can do this for:

• Sore throats (adults, and children aged 5+)
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (women aged 16-64)
• Sinusitis (adults, and children aged 12+)
• Shingles (all adults aged 18+)
• Earache – acute otitis medial (children aged between 1-17)
• Infected insect bites (adults, and children aged 1+)
• Impetigo (adults, and children aged 1+)

To find out more, visit your local pharmacy, or see the NHS in North Central London's webpages on Your Local Health Team.