Hub Connections Highlights
The Benefits of Volunteering for Wellbeing – July 2025
Our latest Hub Connections event celebrated the volunteers whose dedication makes the Barnet Wellbeing Service possible. From befriending to admin support, co‑facilitating groups, and running social activities like gardening and pottery, their contributions create real, lasting change.
As Tola Kolawole said: “The success of the Barnet Wellbeing Service is driven by our incredible volunteers.”
We heard about Barnet Friends’ befrienders, who give an average of 50 hours of support each month, and New Citizens Gateway volunteers, who guide GP registrations, help with admin tasks, and bring people together through creative activities.
A highlight of the day was our interactive post‑it exercise, where volunteers and community members reflected on what volunteering gives back to them. Colourful notes filled the boards with reflections on building friendships, reducing loneliness, staying active, and finding purpose – a powerful reminder that giving your time can enrich your own wellbeing, too.
We’re proud to work alongside so many dedicated volunteers a Barnet Wellbeing Service. If you’re inspired to get involved, check out opportunities with Volunteering Barnet, Age UK Barnet, New Citizens’ Gateway, and Barnet Friends.
Self Care - February 2025
Our first Hub Connections event of 2025 brought together Barnet residents, health professionals, and community organisations for a day focused on building trust in primary care and encouraging self-care through local support. Held at The Meritage Centre, the event offered an engaging mix of interactive workshops, wellbeing sessions, and myth-busting quizzes.
Attendees took part in thought-provoking conversations about navigating GP services, managing long-term conditions, and accessing local support. The day also featured presentations from health professionals, community advocates, and project leads who shared practical tools and insights for taking charge of your own health.
This event reinforced the strength of community-led change – showing how small steps toward wellbeing can build long-term trust in health services.
World Mental Health Day – October 2024
To mark World Mental Health Day, Barnet Wellbeing Service hosted a vibrant and uplifting Hub Connections event at The Meritage Centre, focusing on mental health in the workplace. The day brought together a powerful mix of community members, inspiring speakers, and local organisations.
The event also included an energetic fitness and mobility session from Annalisa Cellini, and a beautiful Iranian dance performance from Anahita.
Stallholders from Andy’s Man Club, Barnet Mencap, Young People Thrive, and many more shared how they’re supporting wellbeing locally. A particularly moving moment came from a personal testimony by a man who found Andy’s Man Club through Barnet Wellbeing Service and has since found hope through their support.
The event ended with a light lunch and networking, reinforcing how powerful connection and collaboration can be when supporting mental health.
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PCREF and Racial Equity in Mental Health – May 2024
In May, we explored a vital topic at our Hub Connections event: the NHS England Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF). This is the first national anti-racism framework for mental health services, aiming to embed equity and accountability across providers.
We were joined by Jordelle Akinola, Community Engagement Lead for EDI at Barnet, Enfield & Haringey and Camden & Islington NHS Trusts. She spoke candidly about the need for inclusive, diverse community voices especially people from underrepresented gender identities and intersectional backgrounds to shape how care is delivered.
Jordelle emphasised the importance of meeting people where they are and not expecting communities to come to authorities. Her reflections sparked meaningful conversations about power, representation, and trust.
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Closing the Care Gap – March 2024
At our March Hub Connections event in 2024, Barnet Wellbeing Service joined forces with local voices and health leaders to raise awareness around cancer care and screening. The theme, Closing the Care Gap, focused on how to make healthcare more accessible, especially for underserved communities.
Speakers like Cllr Zahra Beg, Vanessa Nzekwu from UCLH, and Hawa Abdi shared important insights into how community-led approaches can break down barriers to care.
Vanessa reminded us that trusted community organisations can reach people in ways that larger systems sometimes cannot. She explained that being embedded in the local area allows smaller organisations to connect personally with residents – encouraging better uptake of screening services and earlier diagnoses.
The event also marked the launch of our partnership with the North Central London Cancer Alliance to promote cancer awareness across Barnet.
