Latest News
for Barnet VCFSE
Environmental Network
Thanks for your interest in the Barnet VCFSE Environmental Network. Sharing latest news, funding opportunities, events etc. Any questions/thoughts/contributions, do get in touch...
Ellen Cheshire, Community Organisation Support Lead
ellen@inclusionbarnet.org.uk 11 May 2023
Our Next Meeting
Barnet VCFSE Environmental NetworkWednesday 17 May, 2pm - 3:30pm
If you've already been to a Barnet VCFSE Environmental Network meeting then you'll automatically receive a MS Teams link for our next meeting on Wednesday 17 May, 2pm - 3:30pm.
If you've not joined us yet, then do email Ellen. These are informal and informative networking sessions for those working in the Barnet Voluntary, Community, Faith & Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector, where we can come together to discuss environmental issues in the Borough, and work out how we as a sector can make a difference. This networking group will raise awareness of environmental projects that are happening in the Borough, help to establish partnerships and joint initiatives and seek funding opportunities. If you have any topics you would like to raise/discuss at future meetings, do let Ellen know. FOR PAST E-NEWSLETTERS
Online workshop...Community Resilience: Flood Action
A virtual workshop exploring flood risk in London and action communities can take. This workshop will explore London's risk to flooding, including flash flood events. Flash flooding can happen when very heavy rain falls on hard surfaces, overwhelming drainage and sewers. This sort of flooding is difficult to predict, it often happens quickly with fast flowing water that could pose a risk to life. Thursday 1 Jun, 15:30 - 17:00 Book your ticket for this Community Resilience: Flood Action workshop
Join the network...Reducing food waste and empowering communities
There are currently over 300 fridges across the UK and counting, Hubbub have partnered with Co-op to fund 500 fridges by the end of 2023. If you work to reduce food waste, consider signing up for the Community Fridge Network. It connects 'fridges' across the UK so they can share knowledge and skills. If there isn't one near you, then consider starting one. There's plenty of advice on
Hubbub's Community Fridge Network website.
Adopt a Burnt Oak Community Parklet
The parklets (see below) are free to use community assets on Watling Avenue in Burnt Oak funded by the National Temporary Street Space Fund to support post Covid High Street Recovery delivered by Barnet Council. They are timber structures with step free access, integrated planting and seating. We are currently looking for community organisations, local groups, businesses etc in Burnt Oak who would be interested in using them as a free resource until the end of 2023. We are open to suggestions for their use – this may be a pop up music event, stalls, outdoor seating, painting, planting etc. It is also an opportunity for partnerships between different organisations to act as stewards.
If you are interested in adopting a parklet, please get in touch with Suzanne Mei Coong.
Podcast Recommendation...
Get Involved...Healthy Hedgerows
Making London a greener city for all
City Bridge Trust are looking to award Revenue Grants to fund local projects that take an equitable approach to mitigating and/or adapting to climate change. They encourage applications both from organisations that already actively focus on climate and nature and those that have not previously seen environmental action as a priority. Strong applications will show environmental consideration throughout. Applications accepted on a rolling basis
Climate Action Fund - Nature and Climate
This National Lottery funding aims to help communities across the UK to address climate change. They’re looking for projects that focus on the link between nature and climate. We want to fund projects that use nature to encourage more community-led climate action. We expect these projects to bring other important social and economic benefits. Like the creation of strong, resilient and healthy communities or the development of ‘green’ skills and jobs. Book for
information session on 20 June. Deadline: Friday 30 June at 12 noon
Breath London Communities Programme
Breathe London Communities Programme is providing 20 fully funded air quality sensors to community groups, as part of the Breathe London network. They are looking for projects that:
. Can lead to an improvement in local air pollution or a reduction in exposure to pollution (or both).
. Include a strong aspect of community involvement.
. Are representative of the diversity of London. Deadline: Friday 30 June
Co-op Local Community Fund Co-op are inviting local causes to apply to the Local Community Fund in Spring. There'll be three in each community area. Last year’s successful applicants were Hope Corner Community Centre, GROW and Citizens Advice Barnet. Deadline: Sunday 11 June More
information about the Local Community Fund can be found here. Did you know, that individual Co-op food stores and funeralcare also have small grants of £150 for local good causes, pop in and ask.
Community Event Funding from Barnet Council Barnet Council’s vision is to make Barnet a ‘Borough of Fun’, where those who live and work have opportunities to enjoy life and celebrate the things that are important to them. Community Groups can apply for up to £1,000 throughout the year to host an event with their community. Apply at least 4 weeks before the proposed event More information and how to apply for Community Event Funding
Air Quality Action Plan 2023 - 2028 consultation So that we can continue to improve air quality across the borough we have produced a new draft Air Quality Action Plan 2023- 2028 (External link)(AQAP) which is also part of the council’s duty to contribute to London Local Air Quality Management. This new plan builds on our previous plan and outlines the steps the
council will take from 2023 to 2028 to improve air quality across the borough, with actions falling under seven categories. Read more about the Air Quality Plan and have your say
Deadline: 11 May 2023
Housing Related Strategy consultations Barnet Council are currently reviewing four of their housing-related of strategies and policies that are aimed at improving the availability, quality, and sustainability of housing in the borough. They want to hear your views on these updated strategies and our updated policy for allocating social housing in Barnet: - Housing Strategy
- Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy
- Housing Allocation
Scheme
- Tenancy Strategy
Read more about the Housing Related Strategies and have your say
Deadline: 31 May 2023
Local Flood Risk Management Strategy consultation The climate is changing and flooding is likely to become more frequent and intense. Severe flooding causes many negative impacts, such as property damage, mental health, social wellbeing and even danger to life. The aim of the strategy is to work in partnership with local communities and organisations responsible for managing flooding in order to better understand and reduce, local flood risk in Barnet. The LFRMS is a key statutory document which explains how different types of local flood risk will be managed within the London Borough of Barnet for a six-year period. Barnet Council want your views on our draft strategy for 2023 - 2029. Read more about the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy consultation
Deadline: 23 June 2023
Design team selected to lead the £18.8m transformation of West Hendon Playing Field
Ove Arup & Partners Ltd have been chosen to head up the regeneration of West Hendon Playing Field after winning a prestigious design contest by the London Borough of Barnet in partnership with the Landscape Institute. Arup was chosen out of 19 initial entries by a team of highly qualified judges, reaching stage two of the contest with fellow finalists LDA Design and Southern Green. Final designs were entered in February before Arup was chosen as the overall winner. The redevelopment plans include new tennis courts, 3G artificial turf pitches, a high ropes course, bowling green, multi-use games area, outdoor gym, play area, skate park and more. Proposals for the new-look destination will be based on Garden City principles, showcasing how green infrastructure can support outdoor sport and
mental health and wellbeing.
More information on thhe West Hendon Playing Field transformation
EFN's Green Fundraisers Forum Meeting
This bi-monthly meeting from the Environmental Funders Network is an informal virtual gathering, a chance to come together, meet other people fundraising in the environment sector, and discuss issues, questions, thoughts and ideas that might be of interest to the group at large. Further details to follow, but register with EFN for more information. Wednesday 24 May, 2pm - 3pm (online)
Join the Inclusion Barnet team...
Healthwatch volunteer co-ordinator (peer role) Are you passionate about patient and public engagement, effecting system change, and improving services? Are you confident to support a team of engaged volunteers to conduct research, and tell the story of the findings to decision-makers? Are you excited by the opportunity to contribute to the delivery of a user-led Healthwatch? If so, we’d love to work with you in order to improve the experiences of people using health and social care services in Barnet. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with lived experience of disability (which could include a long term condition or mental health issue) to join a small team in the delivery of Barnet’s statutory Healthwatch function.
Barnet Civic Awards 2023 Congratulations to all those who were nominated and awarded at this year's Barnet Civic Awards inc The Flower Bank, Burnt Oak Food Bank, RCCT, Barnet Asian Women's Association, Together in Barnet, Jim's Cafe and Love Whetsone and many more. Read about this year's Civic Awards
Inclusion Barnet highlights employers right to reserve roles for disabled people We were delighted to have the opportunity to work with Acas to update their recruitment guidance in order to provide more information to employers about when they can reserve roles for disabled people. Many recruiters are unaware that employers can reserve any role for a disabled person and we wanted to ensure that clearer advice
for employers was more widely available for recruiters. Read our news story about this great achievement
BBC Let it Grow - Gardeners' World BBC Radio 2 have launched a new gardening campaign - Let It Grow - which aims to help people transform dull, grey outdoor spaces into wild and colourful ones by growing flowers and vegetables. There's loads of information and links on the Let it Grow website, including how to get your hands on free seeds.
Get Involved in the Clean Air Day Challenge Ahead of Clean Air Day on 15 June the Mayor of London is calling on young people across London to help lead the way in celebrating clean and healthy air for everyone. For Clean Air Day 2023 they’ve launched an exciting new challenge for young Londoners, aged 4 to 14, to create poster designs to show exactly why healthy air is so important to them and for our city. By taking part London’s children will have the chance to have their designs featured as part of this year’s Clean Air Day celebration – on posters across London or on the Mayor of
London social media channels. The Clean Air Day challenge is open now and the deadline for entries is 29 May. Find out more about the Clean Air Day Challenge and see how to apply.
Proms at St Jude’s Festival 2023 The Proms at St Jude’s Festival is a wonderful array of music, literature, comedy, family events and heritage walks that takes place every summer in Hampstead Garden Suburb, North London. Among the Festival's guided walks are those exploring Kenwood, venerable trees in the Artisan Quarter of the Suburb, Constable's Hampstead and the Suburb's Central
Square. In the Literary events strand, Henry Dimbleby, founder of the Leon restaurant chain, government adviser and author of the radical National Food Strategy, takes us behind the scenes, revealing what shapes the modern diet, why the global food system is leading us into disaster and what can be done about it. He'll be in conversation with Sheila Dillon talking about his new book Ravenous. Proms at St Jude's runs from 24 June to 2 July 2023, and full listings are here.
Events coinciding with National Urban Tree Festival Week There will be two events at the Tiny Forest in May:
On Wednesday May 17th Earthwatch are organising a science day for schools and community. They will be doing the usual carbon capture and biodiversity counts, as well as something around thermal comfort and flood prevention. The community slot is 1430-1600. Lots more information and resources can be found on the Tiny Forest. For those of us who cannot attend during a weekday, we'll do a session on Sunday May 21 at 1100-1230. On that day we can also do some litter picking and/or
weeding as required. If anyone can make that it would be great! Forests at the Edge have three walks planned what forest ecologies on the edges of London might have to teach us about sharing space, finding community and co-flourishing alongside each other in the city. Through art activities, discussion, sensory exercises and mindfulness practices we will venture into three distinctive woodland environments to uncover what these special places might have to teach us. The one in Barnet is Existence as Resistance, Sat 13 May
1pm-3.30pm, Barnwood N2 Edible Forest, Finchley (Finchley Central, Northern line) and you will find information on all three Forests on the Edge here. West Hendon Arts and Culture Society is holding a community event at West Hendon Community Hub, Damsel Walk/Marsh Drive, London NW9 7QQ on 17 May 2023 from 17:30 to 20:00. The main focus is on trees, but with a range of other environmental and sustainability content
and activities. This will be a family event with children's activities, food, talks and demos. Urban Tree Festival is a joint event with Eco Show and Tell. With funding support from North London Waste Authority and Barnet Council
Save the Date for the second Barnet Together Alliance Conference
Join us for the second Barnet Together Alliance Conference Monday 2 October, 9am – 4.05pm Theme: Stronger Together: Addressing inequalities in Barnet Keynote speakers • Workshops • Marketplace
Networking • Meet the funders Followed by Then tea and cake until 5pm Address: RAF Museum, Hendon Formal invitation and agenda to follow
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