Barnet Council will be given an extra £500,000 from the government to “support community cohesion” following a spate of antisemitic incidents in the borough.
The announcement follows the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green last Wednesday (29th April) and a string of attacks at synagogues and other Jewish sites in recent months.
The local authority says money will be used to fund a dedicated resource to promote community cohesion, increased capacity for community safety support, targeted support for engagement initiatives, and “robust programmes” for schools and young people.
The news came as part of an announcement made today (Tuesday 5th) by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
This followed a ‘summit’ held by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street addressing rising concerns surrounding antisemitism.
The PM described recent attacks against members of the Jewish community in the UK as “a crisis for all of us,” adding: “we have to show action”.
In addition to the £500k for Barnet Council, MHCLG announced a £1million expansion of its ‘Common Ground’ programme, designed to “support communities and places facing the greatest risk of antisemitism today”.
Responding to the news, a spokesperson for Barnet Council said: “The impacts of global events are felt deeply in Barnet. The borough is home to the largest Jewish and Iranian communities in the United Kingdom, with approximately one in seven of our residents identifying as Jewish, and one in eight as Muslim alongside many other faiths.
“The government funding will be used to lead and coordinate a programme of community cohesion and engagement work to respond to the challenges Barnet’s communities face.”
Cath Shaw, the council’s chief executive, added: “We welcome the government’s recognition that councils have a vital role to play in bringing communities together, and that this needs investment.
“This funding will strengthen our immediate response and help us to support Barnet’s residents effectively, ensuring Barnet remains a model of resilience and unity.”
Joe Ives reports on Barnet, Enfield and Haringey as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service, covering local politics, council decisions, regeneration projects, crime, transport and other issues affecting residents.
