More than 300 residents enjoyed a sunny afternoon of music and entertainment at a Barnet Homes festival in East Finchley.
The fun day at The Grange estate on Sunday 22 July featured a beat the goalie competition, face painting, a bouncy castle, DJ demonstrations and more.
It was organised by Barnet Homes with the help of resident director Angela Purcell and the Grange Residents’ Steering Group, as part of efforts to foster community spirit and encourage more residents to get involved in their neighbourhood.
Angela Purcell, who lives on the estate, said: “It was an exceptional event and people are still talking about it several days later. I don’t think The Grange has had a unified feeling like that for many a year. People were incredibly sociable.
“We hope to set up a residents’ association on The Grange and we really feel we’ve now got something to work with and build on.”
Barnet Homes Chief Executive, Tracey Lees, said: “We work very hard to engage residents in all that we do at Barnet Homes. We want to ensure we work with them, not just for them.
“The fun day at The Grange enabled families to enjoy themselves for an afternoon while also getting to know their neighbours. We were fortunate with the weather but delighted so many people came along.
“We hope that will generate a greater sense of community on the estate, so that more people will work us to make the estate a place where they feel proud to live.”
The fun day was just one of a number of events that Barnet Homes holds throughout the year for its tenants and leaseholders.
Upcoming events include an Urban Gamez festival at Barnet’s largest estate, Grahame Park, on 31 August, and two Love where you Live days in September.
Love where you Live is a campaign started by Barnet Homes in 2010 to work with residents to carry out environmental ‘blitzes’ of estates while laying on entertainment for families.