BOOST Childs Hill project launched by the Mayor of Barnet

On 13^th April the Mayor of Barnet Councillor David Longstaff, accompanied by the Mayoress Gillian Griffiths, cut the ribbon to officially launch the second BOOST project in the borough. BOOST Childs Hill is a spin-off project from the original BOOST (Burnt Oak Opportunity Support Team) which started in July 2015 and has engaged with over 800 residents and supported 298 into sustainable employment.

BOOST Childs Hill, like original BOOST, is funded by Barnet Council working in partnership with Barnet Homes, JobCentre Plus, Barnet and Southgate College and local community organisations. It is aimed at helping unemployed residents from the Childs Hill Ward (and also the Whitefields area near Brent Cross) to find work, but will also help the wider community with housing support, benefits advice and training opportunities to help them achieve their aspirations. The project will operate from a number of venues across the ward including Childs Hill library, the Children’s Centre and from the ‘Careers Coach’.

The ‘Careers Coach’ was the focus of attention at the launch, with live jobs boards and members of the team and partners providing on the spot advice and support. There was also family entertainment on hand, with Easter activities such as face painting and a DJ Academy.

Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, also attended the event and spoke with local residents and members of the team.

Derek Rust, Deputy CEO of The Barnet Group, said: “Building on the success of BOOST, this is another important initiative aimed at supporting people to find work and access a wide range of advice and support in their local community, as well as increasing the prosperity of the area.”

The Leader of Barnet Council, Councillor Richard Cornelius, said: “BOOST has already proved itself to be an excellent way of giving people the helping hand they need to find work, and the numbers of people it has helped in Burnt Oak speak for themselves.

“I’m delighted that a second BOOST project is being launched in Childs Hill and that even more people will be able to benefit from its support and advice.”