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🗞️ The kindest project in Finchley?
Published 10 months ago • 6 min read
Welcome
This week we hear about the local kindness project, and how you can have your say in the community.
📝Kindness Starts in East Finchley
Joshua's message
East Finchley actor and film-maker Joshua Ford, 31, has embarked on a unique mission to spread kindness across London. Armed with a notepad and a pen, he left 100 handwritten notes of encouragement in unexpected places for strangers to discover. His messages, simple yet heartfelt, aim to lift spirits and remind people they’re not alone in life’s challenges.
The idea came to him during a tough period in his own life, when he realized how much a few kind words could mean. Determined to share that feeling, he began leaving notes in cafés, buses, parks, and train stations. Messages like “You are enough” and “Keep going, you’re doing great” have resonated with those who find them, sparking smiles and sometimes even tears.
Joshua’s project highlights the power of small, intentional acts of kindness. In a fast-paced city like London, where people often feel isolated, his initiative is a gentle reminder of our shared humanity. “I wanted to show people they’re seen and valued,” he says. “Sometimes a little encouragement is all it takes to make someone’s day.”
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with strangers sharing stories of how his words have helped them through difficult moments. Some have even been inspired to start leaving their own notes, creating a ripple effect of goodwill.
Joshua hopes his efforts encourage others to look out for each other and prioritise compassion. His actions prove that even the smallest gestures can make a meaningful difference in building a more connected and caring community.
Resilient message of kindness, creativity, connecting to community. Love it. 📝
Events
OLDER PEOPLE
Monday 3rd February
Kitchen Confidence | Mon, Feb. 03 | 11:00 am to 1:30 pm | Ann Owens Centre, Oak Lane, EN2 8LT | £40 | The new Age UK barnet cookery classes for over 55s starts with the first class focusing on Lebanese flavours. :ater classes will focus on healthy and hearty foods, italian delights amd winter warming foods. | 0208 129 7621 or email.
COMMUNITY
Saturday 1st February
Let There Be Light | Sat, Feb. 01 | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | St Mary's Church Hendon, NW4 4JT | Free | Hendon St Mary's church is holding another open church. February's theme is 'Let there be light'. There will be games, puzzles, arts and craft, as well as a hot soup lunch and cake and refreshments.
Saturday 8th February
Dickens in North London: a birthday guided walk | Sat, Feb. 8 | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | Meet outside High Barnet tube station | £15, £5 under 12s | Explore the many Dickens connections with Finchley and Barnet in his life and work – and about his astounding birthday celebrations, as we celebrate his 213th birthday. Email.
MUSIC
Saturday 1st February
North London Youth Orchestra | Sat, Feb. 01 | 6:30 pm | St James, Muswell Hill, N10 3DB | Free entry | Angellica Bell, renowned British television presenter and broadcaster, will be joining NLYO as the narrator for the first concert next Saturday, where she will bring Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf to life through her captivating storytelling. To reserve your seat, just email.
Saturday 8th february
The Fabulous Feedback Band | Sat, Feb. 08 | 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm | The East Barnet Royal British Legion Club, 38 Brookhill Road, EN4 8SL | Free | The Fabulous Feedback Band travel the UK and beyond to deliver brilliant music, infectious humour and boundless energy to those in need (i.e. you).
SPORT
Wednesday 28th January
Collindale Communities Trust - Yoga | Wed, Jan. 29 | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | The Old Library, The Concourse, NW9 5XA | Free | Beginer Vinyasa Flow Class. Class is suitable for all. Builds strength, flexibility and mindfullness. Email.
Saturday 1st February
Free Weekly Inclusive Sports Activities | Sat, Feb. 01 | 4:15 pm to 5:15 pm | Willesden Sports Centre, Donnington Road, NW10 3QX | Free | Join the DSC Girls Club - a free inclusive movement club for young girls with special educational needs or other disabilities.
Sunday 2nd February
Camden Town WFC vs Luton Town Ladies Reserves | Sun, Feb. 2 | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Maurice Rebak Stadium, Summers Lane, N12 0PD | Free | Join us for an electrifying league clash as Camden Town WFC take on Luton Town Ladies Reserves. Don’t miss the action and the chance to cheer the team to victory.
NATURE
Saturday 1st February
LNHS walk - Hampstead Heath Bryophytes | Sat, Feb. 01 | 10:30 pm to 3:00 pm | Whitestone Pond, NW3 | Are you interested in going into more depth about nature on Hampstead Heath? The London Natural History Society (LNHS) run free regular, detailed, ecological surveys and nature walks on Hampstead Heath. This walk will focus on the bryophytes found on Hampstead Heath, hosted by Jeff Ducket.
SUSTAINABILITY
Thursday 6th February
Business Beyond Waste Workshop | Thu, Feb. 06 | 9:30 am to 11:30 am | Online | Free | ReLondon invites you to an interactive workshop designed for businesses ready to embrace new ideas and stay ahead of the curve. Whether you're running a café, retail store or office-based business, this is your chance to explore new ways to approach the ingredients, products, packaging and materials that pass through your business to simplify operations, reduce costs, and attract new customers.
Events - Book Ahead
Monday 17th February
Moana Inspired Theatre Week | Mon, Feb. 17 | 9:30 pm to 3:15 pm (early dropoff available) | Wesley Hall, EN5 4JJ | £175 | Little Voices North London is running a Moana-inspired Theatre Week camp. Children will work towards a final performance for family and friends on the final day of camp.
Sunday 2nd March
Regency Dance Workshop | Sun, Mar. 02 | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | Keats House, 10 Keats Grove, NW3 2RR | £12.00 | A chance to learn some of the popular dances from the Regency period.
Thursday 6th March
Kate Mosse: Labyrinth Live | Thu, Mar. 06 | 7:30 pm to 9:50 pm | artdepot, N12 0GA | from £22 | To celebrate the 20th anniversary of her global bestseller, Kate Mosse presents her one-woman show. This dazzling, immersive theatre experience features music, imagery, and film, guiding you through the history and mystery of the Languedoc region — Carcassonne, Toulouse, Chartres, and the Pyrenees.
Local Lowdown
The Highgate Bookshop Team | Image from Cally Flood
Reading
Bookish brilliance, Highgate Bookshop remains a High Street staple. After previous owner Michael Goodwin retired last year, it looked like it might close. But thanks to community action it now has new ownership. Long-serving staff and beloved stock stay put, continuing the legacy.
Consulting
Coffee talk. Kickstart your day with Sarah Sackman MP on 31st January at Church End. Join local police and Barnet Council's safety expert for a coffee morning to share and discuss any concerns. Sign up here.
Electing
Vote ready.The Burnt Oak ward by-election is coming up. Check out the candidates and if you're a resident, make your voice heard. The voter registration deadline is Tuesday, 28 January 2025. Don't miss it.
Rerouting
Drive detour. Claremont Road is closed from now until August 30 for upgrades. The footpath should be unaffected but plan your route ahead.
Terrifying
Spooky subway. A recent TfL FOI request for reports of ghosts on the Tube, unveiled just one ghostly sighting. It was by a teenager at King's Cross Station in 2023. Ghost hunters, this could be your next stop.
Barnet Youth Question Time
Got a burning question for Barnet’s top decision-makers? Join Barnet Youth Question Time – a unique online Q&A with the Barry Rawlings, Leader of the Council (think headteacher, but with a £350m budget!) and his Cabinet.
This is your chance to learn how Barnet Council works, find out what they’re doing for young people, and ask how you can make a difference in your community. From parks to youth services, they’re ready to answer.
Open to young people in Barnet aged 11-18 (Years 7-13). Submit your questions by 4pm on 27 January 2025 and get ready to be heard.
And email us with any projects or ideas you'd like us to write about.
Tessa Davis
Sasha Frieze
Finchley Now
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