Barnet Council is launching a new campaign, Connecting Communities, to foster local pride and strengthen community bonds through positive and inclusive messaging. To ensure the campaign reaches all segments of the Barnet community, the council plans to use data and community insight. The council also intends to use various outreach methods to collect photos and case studies from residents.
The initiative follows discussions with community leaders and aims to celebrate the borough's diversity and resilience. The campaign is one of the projects spotlighted by the council's Connecting Communities campaign launched in August 2025.
One example of this is the Community Quilt initiative led by residents in Barnet, which is aimed at 'fostering unity and standing against the racist and divisive rhetoric of the far-right and the systems that feed it'. Through the collaborative creation of a physical community quilt, this project seeks to celebrate and commemorate the diversity of Barnet, particularly as a Borough of Sanctuary. 'The quilt, composed of patches contributed by people of all ages and backgrounds, will symbolise the unity and solidarity of the evolving community for years to come.' The first workshops were hosted by New Citizens Gateway and held in a Council Library.
At a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Thursday, 11 September 2025, councillors received an update on the campaign, which was developed following discussions with community leaders. The campaign aims to build pride in local communities through positive and inclusive messaging. The full details of the discussion are available in the Public reports pack 11th-Sep-2025 19.00 Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The update also included information on community cohesion, the Community Safety Partnership Annual Dashboard 2024-25, and the Community Safety Team's Annual Report for 2024-25.
Barnet has continued to bring diverse communities together through celebration and solidarity events. The Barnet Multi-Faith Forum has organised faith walks, congregations and social occasions, and continues to work in collaboration with key borough partners such as Middlesex University, to host significant events i.e. the annual Big Iftar Event and the Together for Humanity Peace Vigil in 2024.
The Police and Council work closely with residents and borough organisations to Tackle Hate Crime, as part of the Safer Communities Partnership Board objectives. Support for victims of hate crime is available through the borough's Victim's Hub and Restorative Justice services. The council also prioritises the organisation of positive conversations, such as community listening events and roundtables, through the Community Listening Programme.
Barnet has demonstrated a strong support for migrant communities, and has been a Borough of Sanctuary since July 2024. A co-owned Borough of Sanctuary action plan outlines practical activities to welcome and support Barnet's asylum seekers and refugees.
In the summer of 2024, Barnet faced significant tension due to threats of far-right disorder, specifically the alleged threat of targeting a legal office in North Finchley known to support immigration cases. The local response showed strength and resilience and that week there was a solidarity visit to Friday prayers by the Barnet Multi Faith Forum at North Finchley Mosque. A large congregation was joined by Rabbis, a diverse array of prominent faith and community leaders and council representatives. Attendees expressed gratitude to the residents of Barnet for coming together to send a powerful message about the strength and unity of the community.
Following the summer events, Barnet communities focused on positives to bring people together. An example of this is the Community Quilt initiative led by residents in Barnet, which is aimed at 'fostering unity and standing against the racist and divisive rhetoric of the far-right and the systems that feed it'. Through the collaborative creation of a physical community quilt, this project seeks to celebrate and commemorate the diversity of Barnet, particularly as a Borough of Sanctuary. 'The quilt, composed of patches contributed by people of all ages and backgrounds, will symbolise the unity and solidarity of the evolving community for years to come.' The first workshops were hosted by New Citizens Gateway and held in a Council Library. This is also one of the projects spotlighted by the council's Connecting Communities campaign launched in August 2025.
