Many people are feeling the pinch, especially in the run-up to the festive season. This can be especially true of the most vulnerable people in our Borough – perhaps you have a family member with dementia or have a neighbour whose children need additional help with their education or their health.

Homelessness is on the rise, with people losing their jobs and homes, and young people are without sports, arts and healthy activities. Sometimes, the problems seem too huge to overcome.

Here is where two Barnet charities and local residents have stepped in to help!

Inclusion Barnet and Community Barnet, have set up a grant programme for charities, for funding to run local projects to benefit local Barnet residents. Local people have helped us tremendously by raising funds through cake sales and Christmas card sales to raise funds! The name of this scheme is Barnet Giving.

We are delighted to announce that grant applications to the Barnet Giving fund are now open. In this, its first year of grant allocation, Barnet Giving has £30,000 to distribute. Charities, voluntary groups and projects based and/or benefitting Barnet residents can apply for grants of £1,000 to £5,000. Grants are aimed at two key areas of improving community links and supporting independence and resilience. Barnet Giving is particularly keen on applications from smaller groups. Applications are made online through London Community Foundation. The deadline for applications is January 13, 2017.

Full eligibility criteria and the application form are available at http://tinyurl.com/hwpa3gw

If you would like to get involved in Barnet Giving, please join us! Here is how you could help: Bake for Barnet – make or sell cakes to help us raise fund for good causes!

Talk to your employer or organisation about whether they could support our event or make a donation!

Come and volunteer in our office and develop new skills and make new friends!

Barnet Giving is a local charity project that raises money to fund smaller charities, community groups and local projects in Barnet – it is led by local residents who are helping to fundraise, to identify local needs and to make grants.

Barnet Giving has been actively fundraising since July 2016 through a number of initiatives including Bake for Barnet, Christmas charity cards designed by a local artist, and collaboration with local and regional funders.

Barnet Giving is managed by Inclusion Barnet www.barnetcil.org.uk, Registered Charity number: 1158632 and Community Barnet, Registered Charity number: 1071035, www.communitybarnet.org.uk. Barnet Giving partners with London Community Foundation (LCF) www.londoncf.org.uk to administer its grant programme. Currently, all funds raised with be matched by LCF donating an extra 50p for every £1 raised.

For more information: www.barnetgiving.org.uk