Category: NW7 Hub News

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December Newsletter

Hello,

As the days get shorter and colder, we hope our monthly NW7hub and Mill Hill Library update will provide some light and seasonal cheer. 

First off, we’re very excited to share our first ever ‘Virtual Winter Fair’, so if you’re still searching for presents for family and friends then look no further. Head over to our Facebook page to explore the wonderful local businesses being showcased.

We’re also pleased to announce that pre-booked PC sessions are now available at Mill Hill Partnership Library for internet access and printing/photocopying. For more information and timings, scroll down this email or check the website.

In January we will be saying goodbye to Phoebe, our Operations and Events Manager, who will be moving to a new job. We are sad to see her go and wish her all the best for her future. As she moves on, we are excited to be recruiting for a new position of Charity Manager at NW7hub. If this could be you, or you know someone who would be a great fit, then read on.

The holidays ahead will hopefully be a much needed break for many. Unfortunately it will also be a difficult time for lots of people as an increasing number of people struggling with access to food. Because of this we are expanding our opening hours over the holidays – please see below and share with anyone that may need it. Also, one of our volunteers has organised an incredible initiative to provide a Christmas Dinner (sprouts and all) to those who use our foodbank, so please scroll down for more information and ways you can help and support.

Stay well and seasons greetings from all of us at NW7hub

Presenting our Virtual Winter Fair

Still haven’t bought any presents? We’ve got you sorted!
Our first ever Virtual Winter Fair
As the lockdown saying goes, all great things must go online! And the NW7hub Winter Fair is no exception. Over the next month, we will be showcasing some of the wonderful local artists and talent that surround us in Barnet.

Follow us on Facebook to support local businesses and for a chance to buy some truly unique gifts! Keep an eye out for anything that takes your fancy and get in touch with the sellers directly. 

Help through the letterbox
We’ve also recently launched another project on Facebook called Help through the letterbox. This page is a place to share and celebrate the positive changes and memories from lockdown. Have you picked up a new skills, or witnessed wonderful community spirit? We’d love to hear the small or large, silly or heartfelt stories or photographs from your last few months. 

Library Update

Public PCs set up with social distancing
Library PCs available for pre-booked use
We are pleased to now be one of the Barnet Libraries offering pre-booked sessions on the public PCs to our library customers, for using the internet and printing/photocopying. Our Library Manager and volunteers have done a wonderful job to make this possible in a safe way with socially distanced computers, hand sanitiser and regular cleaning.

45 minutes timeslots are available between 10m-1pm on Wednesday mornings and must be booked in advance over the phone (call 020 8359 3830 on Wednesday or Thursday between 10am to 5pm)

Holiday opening hours
The Select and Collect opening hours and PC use at Mill Hill Library will remain the same over the holidays. As a reminder, they are – 

Wednesday 10am-1pm (Select and Collect and pre-booked PC use)
Thursday 10am-1pm (Select and Collect only)

To see the opening hours of all Barnet Libraries, visit the website here: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/libraries/library-opening-times

We’re Recruiting! Could you be our new Charity Director?

NW7hub is seeking a part-time Charity Director to lead and manage the charity at an exciting and integral time for the charity’s development. Visit our website for the full Job Description and to apply: https://www.nw7hub.org.uk/get-involved/This opportunity would suit someone with the drive, vision and creative leadership to make a big impact for the community.

NW7hub Foodbank

Can you donate to Christmas at the Food Bank?
Already this year we have seen unbelievable generosity from the local community, with collections being arranged by whole streets and businesses. On top of this, one of our volunteers Saz is arranging a Christmas fundraiser – please share/forward this to anyone who may be interested!

Fundraiser for A Christmas Dinner 
Last year Saz ran a Community Christmas Lunch which was a huge success.

This year with the extra pressure on foodbanks Saz is volunteering at the NW7hub Foodbank to create a Christmas special – so families who need to use the food bank can still have some of the special things we enjoy this time of year. She’s even arranged loan of a fridge/freezer, so they can offer frozen turkey and fresh veg – a break from the cans and pasta!

If anyone’s able to donate, little or large, to help stock up – it’ll really help those most struggling at this time feel like they can enjoy the season too!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/mjhvd-christmas-dinner-for-all

The NW7hub foodbank is open to anybody who needs, no voucher or referral needed. It was setup during the first lockdown to help with the extra need. It’s open 10am – 1pm every Tuesday and Saturday and is quiet and confidential. If you know anyone who would benefit from it, please direct them here: https://www.nw7hub.org.uk/covid-19-support/

Extended Holiday Opening Hours 
We will be open more frequently than usual over the holidays to make sure those who need can access food during the school holidays. The opening times are below, and the foodbank will also be open 10am-1pm on Boxing Day (Saturday 26 December).

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November Newsletter

Hello,

We are very pleased to be able to share a selection of new online events starting this week, so although we can’t meet in person, we’d love for you to join us online.

There’s a new bookclub, lots of social meet-ups and a CV writing workshop for anyone looking for a job or wanting to make a career move. Mill Hill Partnership Library is still offering the Select and Collect service during lockdown, thanks to the incredible work of our Library Manager and all the library volunteers, so head over to Barnet Libraries website to place your book requests. If you aren’t able to leave your home to pick up books, then the Home Library Service can offer a home visit to bring your items. 

The NW7hub Food Bank continues to offer food and essential items to those who need it. We are open Tuesday and Saturday (10am-1pm), so please come along if you are struggling during lockdown. We are also very gratefully accepting donations during these hours. The need for this service is increasing as we head into winter, so if you have any spare tins or packets of pasta (within their use by date) or can add some extra items to your weekly shop, please do drop them down.

Our Container Garden is still going strong, with a crop of edible winter plants kindly donated by Finchley Nurseries. We have more to share about the garden soon, so keep an eye out for more updates!Stay well and best wishes from all of us at NW7hub

Online Events – #StayAtHome2

Join us online with events every week 
Community Conversations online for #StayAtHome2 

We’ve teamed up with Colindale and Burnt Oak Mutual Aid groups to put on a weekly programme of online events, with everything from a friendly catch up to meditation. Look through the event programme above or get in touch for more details. Today we’re chatting about podcasts at 2pm!

Join us each week, or just drop in during lockdown. The events will take place on Google Meet or Discord. Email colindalemutualaid@gmail.com for an invite link to join. 

We’re also looking out for more hosts, and more event ideas, so let us know if you want to be involved!

Online Bookclub with The Reader

‘Shared Reading’ club with The Reader
 We are missing talking about books and reading books together, and as it doesn’t look like we’ll be able to do that in person for a while, we are starting a new Zoom reading group! We have teamed up with charity ‘The Reader’ who lead Shared Reading groups.

Shared Reading is a different way to enjoy great literature and to meet people. Instead of individual reading books at home, we all read the same short story/book together from our screens, pausing at intervals to discuss what we’ve read. With over 35 groups running in Barnet and over 500 around the country, it is hugely popular! We will start with short stories and poems, and then maybe choose novels to read together. Each Shared Reading Group is ‘stand alone’ so you can come whenever you are able to do so. 

Our Shared Reading Group will be run by Vivian, an experienced and trained Reader Leader who has led many Shared Reading groups in Barnet.

There will be 3 taster sessions this year, so do come along and try it out and see if you like it. We then hope to meet regularly in 2021 – perhaps even weekly! And hopefully in person before too long. 

Thursday 26 November 2020
Thursday 3 December 2020
Thursday 10 December 2020

All sessions running 2-3pm

Get in touch if you are interested in joining and we will pass your details on to Vivian. Shared Reading is open to everyone – you don’t need to bring anything with you (except maybe a cup of tea!). They are open to everyone, whether you love books or if you are not usually a great reader, so you’re welcome to invite your friends, family and neighbours.

CV Skills and Volunteering Online Workshop 

Tuesday 1st December, 2-3pm
Join us for a free online workshop to learn more about how volunteering can be useful for your career, how to find volunteering opportunities in Barnet and how to talk about your volunteering experience on your CV.

Don’t know how to find a good volunteering opportunity? Struggling to write about your volunteering experience in job applications?This workshop will include presentations from Boost, Volunteering Barnet, and recruiter Chris Raymond, followed by a Q&A.BOOST 
Boost is an employment, benefit advice, skills and wellbeing project, who provide support and advice to Barnet residents.

Volunteering Barnet 
Volunteering Barnet is the Borough’s accredited Volunteer Centre, and have been inspiring and supporting volunteers since 2015.

Chris Raymond
Chris Raymond is a recruiter who has worked with construction and IT professionals, accountants and salespeople. He is currently working as a Talent Partner in Fintech.

If you would like to join, sign up for FREE on the Eventbrite page.This workshop is part of Barnet Libraries online events programme. To see more events from other libraries, visit their website.

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September Newsletter

Hello again!

It’s been a while since we last sent an update, and we’re happy to now share news about the library, foodbank and plans for the autumn. 

We have spent the last month putting COVID-19 safety measures in place and are pleased to share that the Mill Hill Partnership Library is now lending books again (in a very different COVID-secure way – more on this below). 

At the beginning of lockdown we started a foodbank to provide support in the local area. The generosity of local people and organisations has been incredible, and means that we can continue this service into the autumn. If you or anyone you know needs support, please check below for more information.

Many of our activities were suspended during lockdown or, in the case of Mill Hill Chill, moved online. We know that we’ve missed seeing people, and imagine you might too, so we are thinking hard about how we can come together this autumn. We’d love to hear your ideas, so do send us an email.

Stay well and best wishes from all of us at the NW7hub 

Mill Hill Partnership Library

Select and Collect
From this week, it is possible to borrow books and more from Mill Hill Partnership Library again, with the Barnet Libraries ‘Select and Collect’ service. It has been a success in other libraries, so we’re excited to start offering it here in Mill Hill.

The Select and Collect service means that you can borrow items while Barnet Libraries are still closed for browsing. Items need to be requested in advance (via phone, online or email) and then a notification will be sent when they are ready to collect from the front door of the library. 

There are two collection slots available, but please wait until you have been notified before turning up – we aren’t able to pick items for you if they haven’t been requested in advance. 

Wednesday 10am-1pm
Thursday 2pm-5pm

For more information about how Select and Collect works, and to request books and more, visit the Barnet Libraries website. 

Items can now also be returned, just drop them in the blue ‘Dropbox’ to the right of our front door.

There are a number of safety measures in place, and we ask that you abide by social distancing when picking up items, as well as wearing a mask (unless exempt) and sanitising your hands. The collection point is at the front entrance of the building. Please note, there is no access allowed to the building itself, including for toilets or PCs.

NW7hub Foodbank

Open to all who need it.
We are committed to continuing our Foodbank service into the autumn as the situation with COVID-19 continues to develop. We are open to all who need it, and do not require vouchers or referrals. If you are struggling financially and need essentials such as food and toiletries, drop in during our opening times.

Opening Times
We’ve updating our opening times, and are now open –
Tuesday 10am-1pm
Saturday 10am-1pm
Location

We have moved the Foodbank to a new room with more storage, still in the Mill Hill Library building on Hartley Avenue. When you arrive, please ring the doorbell to let us know you’re coming, and then walk down the right hand side of the building (past the fence) to the entrance at the back of the building.

Donations
We are anticipating a rise in demand over the coming months, and would be grateful for donations. At the moment we are in particular need of the following:Pasta sauceCurry sauceTinned meat/fishTinned soupTinned pulses eg chickpeasCooking oil (max 1ltr)PastaCoffeeBiscuitsTinned fruit and dessertsToilet rollSanitary products eg tamponsWashing detergent / soap powderDonations can be dropped off during opening hours, or we may be able to arrange a collection from your house. 

Thank you to everyone who has supported the Foodbank so far.

COVID-19 Safety Measures

We have put safety measures in place across the building. Please help us to stay safe by following these. Access to the building is for specific activities only, we are not open for general use.We are not offering any high-contact services, including photocopying and printing.If you are entering the building for an activity, it is compulsory to sanitise your hands and wear a mask (unless exempt). You must keep 1-2m apart at all times and contact details will be recorded for Test and Trace.Please do not visit the building if you have any symptoms of COVID-19.Thank you for helping us stay safe.
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June Newsletter

Welcome to the NW7Hub & Mill Hill Partnership Library June Newsletter. This month promises to be fun-packed and family-friendly with lots to celebrate.

DATES FOR THE DIARY

  • Come on down for the Mill Hill Chill on Thursday 20th June for our monthly social event with board games, take-out, beer, and friendly people! What more could you want? Oh yeah, we’ve got a projector to watch TV on!
  • The Big Time and NW7hub Summer Fair is taking place this Sunday 23rd June from 2pm – 5pm.  It promises to be an amazing day with games, soft-play, workshops, fairy-tale characters and even your chance to ‘TAKE A SELFIE WITH A REAL OSCAR’.  Entrance is free so please do come down and join in the fun.
  • Are you a budding pianist, fancy trying your hand at the drums?  Come and join us from 10:30am-12:30pm on Saturday 29th June and try your hand at a musical instrument as part of Music Month for Barnet Libraries #yearoflearning
  • Join us on the Saturday 20th of July for the Summer Reading Challenge complete with a Mobile Planetarium and all things outer space. More details to follow.

HEADLINES

  • We were delighted on Wednesday night, whilst attending the annual Barnet Council staff awards, that the Partnership Libraries Teams were awarded highly commended (runners -up) in the Outstanding Contribution to the Community Category – awarded to individuals or teams that make a real contribution to the community .
  • Hot of the press is our ‘Recipe for Life’ booklet available at the Library. It captures life stories through the memories of food in a special collaboration between students of Mill Hill International and members from What’s on Wednesdays. 
  • Mill Hill Litter Pickers Huge thanks to the group that met up on the first of the month and did a brilliant job cleaning up the local area. We now stock kit at the NW7hub that you can borrow to litter pick at any time that suits, so grab some friends and get stuck in. 
  • Spinning Top First Birthday.  We celebrated Spinning Top Activities first year with us on Saturday 8th June.  There was face-painting, dancing, cupcake decorating and even a special appearance from Marshall & Skye of the Paw Patrol.
  • Venue Hire & Bookings We still have the capacity to host many more special events and are always happy to hear from people who would like to hire any of our rooms for classes or private events. 

Waitrose Community Matters Supports NW7hub 

The NW7hub is delighted to have been chosen as one of Waitrose Community Matters recipients for the month of June. Since its launch in 2008, the scheme has donated over £30 million to good causes in store and online.
 

At the end of your shop in the Mill Hill East branch you’ll receive a green token to place in a box of the good cause you’d most like to support. The more tokens we get the bigger the share of the £1,000 available.  Your support would be much appreciated – everything we raise will go towards continuing the work of our charity and the future new build at Daws Lane

Big Time & NW7hub Summer Fair 23rd June 2pm -5pm

Big Time Academy are delighted to celebrate their first year in the community with NW7hub by hosting a family showbiz summer fair at Mill Hill Library.

We are being joined by some of our magical friends on the 23rd June. Come on down to meet Elsa, Minnie Mouse, Belle, Buzz Lightyear and the Mad Hatter! 

They will have lots of great activities and stalls for children including soft play, hook a duck, cookie decorating, sand art designing, candy floss, popcorn and much much more…

Come and join the fun! 
Free Entry

Outstanding Contribution to the Community

We were honoured to receive, in conjunction with the other Partnership Awards, the accolade of highly commended in the category of Outstanding Contribution to the Community.   In our nomination our Libraries Community Engagement Officer, who has supported us throughout the preparation and opening and for the past 2 years said:  “Through a combination of hard work and excellent commitment to customer service, our four partnership libraries have won over the local community. As well as committing to deliver a traditional library service to a high standard, they have also run a range of activities and events for the community and been a friendly face for the isolated.”

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January Newsletter

January has been a busy month at the NW7Hub & Mill Hill Partnership Library: we’ve made a few changes to the layout of the space with the aim of optimising our cafe facilities giving us even more room to work and play; we’ve said farewell to a few long term volunteers who leave us with new skills and experience for paid work, and welcomed two Assistant Managers, Manisha and Alice, who are keen to develop our programme of events that are informative and fun for all. 

We are delighted to see familiar faces back this year for our regular events and are constantly reminded of how valuable the space is for people to meet and share time together.

Headlines

  • Only a few days left to say goodbye to our heritage mural – The mural painted in 1989 currently hanging in the Society Room has been part of the long history of the Library but as Mill Hill goes through a process of rejuvenation we look forward to the unveiling of a new mural made by pupils at Copthall School.  Thursday 7th February at 3:30pm is the grand unveiling to be attended by The Worshipful Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Reuben Thompstone. 
  • Barnet Libraries Year of Learning 2019 – As a partnership library we are pleased to be a part of the very first Barnet Libraries ‘Year of Learning’.  There is a different theme each month and in January we have been Learning Something New, concentrating on updating our job seeking skills.  Future themes and more information can be found here:- BarnetLibrariesYearOfLearning 
  • Fundraising for the new build – This is key for the new build at Daws Lane which will give us a bustling creative centre with even bigger and better facilities to accommodate more of the community.  We are always happy to hear from people who would like to hire any of the 6 rooms we have for classes or private events for either short or long term hire. We have held a number of adult and children’s parties, classes, social clubs and much more and have all the details you need for your special event.
  • Shout out for volunteers – A huge ‘Thank You’ goes out to all our fabulous volunteers for all your hard work and commitment over the last year, we couldn’t have done it without you are now recruiting for more volunteers to join us with a number of roles available, so if you would like to meet new people and learn new skills, drop us a line.
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NW7hub Now Recruiting

Part-Time Assistant Manager

  • Fixed Term Contract:  6 Months
  • 2 Posts: 20 hours per week Mon – Sat; 13 hours per week Mon – Fri
  • Rate of Pay:  £11 per hour

Following the successful development of our community hub and library services we are looking for 2 part-time Assistant Managers.

Experienced in managing staff and volunteers, you will draw on your excellent interpersonal and customer care skills to support the Acting Manager in delivering a range of activities and services for community benefit. You must be able to organise and manage your time efficiently.

For an informal discussion and application pack, please contact:-

Jennifer Brown:  Jennifer@nw7hub.org.uk /  020 8959 1397

Application packs may also be downloaded below

  1. NW7hub Assistant Manager Job Description
  2. FAQ’s
  3. Assistant Manager Application 23.11.18
  • Closing Date:        7th December
  • Shortlisting:        10th December
  • Interview Date:  14th December
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NW7 Hub Opens its Doors

The NW7hub officially opened its doors in Hartley Avenue to the community on 17th October with an event designed to show how the charity has transformed part of the library building into a community space with co-working facilities and to also promote Mill Hill Partnership Library which it has been operating since April 2017.

Special guests included the Deputy Mayor of Barnet Councillor Val Duschinsky and members of the Sir James Murray Family who carried out a room naming ceremony in memory of their great great grandfather. Sir James Murray edited the Oxford English Dictionary and has links to Mill Hill where he worked in the Murray Scriptorium in Mill Hill School. Paul Ruthven-Murray said “he would have found this involvement very appropriate and as a family we are delighted to have been asked to support the library in this way.”

Mill Hill Partnership library has just launched the Secret Agents Summer Reading Challenge. Designed to encourage 4-11 year olds to continue reading over the summer holidays, the aim is to solve a mystery whilst receiving prizes and clues as they compete each stage of the challenge. The launch featured animal themed arts and crafts which families participated in together.

The NW7hub ( also incorporating a cafe, gallery space and rooms for hire ) and Mill Hill Partnership Library provide a range of activities for the community including a baby and toddler group, afternoon social session for adults, book club and coffee morning. Additional events are being planned such as craft fairs, films evenings and quiz nights which are all designed to bring the community together and create a sense of belonging.

The next event in Mill Hill Library is a visit from award winning author Vaseem Khan on Monday 30th October at 8pm. Admission is free.

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Secret Agents Summer Reading Challenge Launched

Mill Hill Partnership library has just launched the Secret Agents Summer Reading Challenge. Designed to encourage 4-11 year olds to continue reading over the summer holidays, the aim is to solve a mystery whilst receiving prizes and clues as they compete each stage of the challenge. The launch featured animal themed arts and crafts which families participated in together.

The Summer Reading Challenge runs from 15th July to 23rd September. Visit the website for further details and do pop in to Mill Hill Partnership Library to register.

https://www.barnet.gov.uk/citizen-home/libraries/childrens-library-services/Animal-Agents—Summer-Reading-Challenge-2017.html

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NW7 Hub Announced as Preferred Partner for NW7 Hub

The NW7hub group was established in 2014 to develop a vision for a new community hub in Mill Hill.

A significant step in our journey has been the recent award as preferred partner to operate Mill Hill Library. We are currently in the transition phase, working towards operating the library from April. As a local group we are delighted to have been chosen by Barnet Council and we look forward to delivering a much valued service to our community, as well as developing alongside it a range of additional activities which will enhance life in Mill Hill and beyond for all age groups. Working with local people will be key to our success and meeting such supporters will help launch our exciting vision for the NW7 Library Hub.

The NW7 Library Hub will be working in partnership with Barnet Council who will continue to provide the books, the lending system and provide training on library systems for our volunteers.

For the Community by the Community

Mill Hill library will be operated by a not for profit charitable organisation known as the NW7hub. We are a group of local residents who are passionate about Mill Hill and see the library as a real opportunity for sharing skills, resources, time and energy to make a difference to our community. We actively invite residents to get involved – on a regular basis in the library building or externally as a fund-raiser, HR expert or Trustee for example. We also need financial support to enable us to effectively manage the project, develop a programme of initiatives to supplement the library offering and create an environment conducive to reading, learning and gathering as a community.

If you can make a donation please do so online to:

  • NW7hub
  • Sort code 09-01-29
  • Account 11790439

Please use your name as the reference and send us an email confirming your support.
Thank you