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Community leaders unite for Barnet Together Alliance conference
Over 100 community leaders, funders and partners gathered at Hendon Town Hall on September 30th for the third Barnet Together Alliance Conference. The event, themed “Working Together to Deliver with Communities in Barnet: The Value of Co-production, Resident Participation, and Community Voice” was a day of inspiration, collaboration and practical learning. Attendees explored how co-production, resident participation and community voice can create more inclusive and effective services.
Networking
The conference kicked off with lively networking, followed by keynote speeches from Cllr Zahra Beg, Cath Shaw (Interim Chief Executive, Barnet council), and David Gilani (Middlesex University), emphasising how co-production and resident participation create more inclusive community services. Attendees explored how to turn these concepts into action, focusing on collaboration and shared power.
“The Barnet Together conference is a brilliant space for community groups and partners to come together under a common theme, this year was no exception. As community groups we spend our days immersed within our communities, we understand the challenges on the ground and importantly, by default, we become our communities advocates. We appreciate the time everyone committed to this event, we know that together we help make the Borough fairer, safer, stronger and more connected”
Janet Matthewson, CEO The Young Barnet Foundation
Workshop highlights
A highlight was Caroline Collier’s (Inclusion Barnet) workshop on Lived Experience Leadership, offering practical advice for supporting leaders with lived experience. The Flexible Volunteering workshop by the Jewish Volunteering Network and Volunteering Barnet also provided essential strategies for adapting volunteer programmes to meet evolving community needs.
Meet the funders
A standout moment was the Meet the Funders panel, where Matt Keane and Chris Hewinson (John Lyon’s Charity), Martin Petry and Daniella Finch (Groundwork London), Marta Montague (Barnet Council), and Helal Uddin Abbas (Trust for London), shared expert advice on securing and managing grants. Attendees walked away with practical tips, fresh leads, and renewed energy for their organisations.
“The Barnet Together Conference is a highlight of my working year – it’s incredibly life-affirming to be in a space with so many inspirational sector colleagues, learning and sharing together. At a time of so many challenges for so many people, it’s so heartening to see the huge range of important, positive work going on in Barnet. Our sector is incredible”
Caroline Collier, CEO Inclusion Barnet
Amplifying community voices
Throughout the day, workshops such as Will Cooper’s (Barnet Council) Community Participation Toolkit, and sessions on co-production from Colindale Communities Trust and Art Against Knives empowered participants with practical tools for amplifying community voices. The marketplace further fostered connections between organisations and funders.
Energised and ready to act!
The afternoon included a presentation from Cllr Sara Conway, and reflections from Caroline Collier and Rian Francis, that left attendees energised and ready to take action. It was rounded off perfectly by tea and cake and more networking, hosted by Cllr Zahra Beg, and attended by The Worshipful the Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet, Cllr Tony Vourou. Reflecting on the success of the Third Annual Conference, Katrina Baker, Director Volunteering Barnet, proud partner of Barnet Together, said,
“The BT conference is such an important vehicle for the voluntary sector to connect, share best practice and talk about how we can tackle important challenges for people and communities in Barnet”
Katrina Baker, Director, Communities and Environmental Services
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