BOOST is an employment and skills service helping Barnet residents get the support they need to overcome barriers and gain sustainable employment. We provide our services in person, by phone and online.

Our main locations are in Burnt Oak HA8 and Childs Hill NW2 and at outreach locations across the borough. BOOST is part of The Barnet Group working in Partnership with Barnet Council.

Click here to download our 2023-24 Annual Report.

Barnet Council have awarded BOOST financial support to help vulnerable households who are struggling with cost of living and inflation challenges.

Residents aged 18-54 can now access support through support workers, housing officers, or social prescribers at selected GP practices. To apply through social prescribers,please contact them via email at nclicb.barnetsocialprescribing@nhs.net, providing the following details:

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Full Address
• GP Practice you are registered with

Their team will assist you with the application process and guide you through the support available.

Please be aware that wait times for GP Social Prescribing may vary, so it could take some time before a social prescriber reaches out to you.

The current application processing time is between three to four weeks due to high demand for support.

If you are an adult aged over 55, please call Age UK Barnet and ask for the Household Support Fund Team on 020 8203 5040 or email info@ageukbarnet.org.uk

If you are experiencing a financial crisis and require immediate support, please contact the Resident Support Fund Team on 020 8359 4242 or email residentsupportfund@barnet.gov.uk.

For more information about the financial support available through Barnet Council, please visit the following website: Benefits, grants and financial advice | Barnet Council

Click here to get the latest Jobs Bulletin and to get the latest construction jobs.

If you are employer looking to hire BOOST can help save you time and money by connecting you to our extensive client network. We can host a recruitment event in one of our locations across the borough and promote your vacancies. For more information, email us at boostrecruitment@barnet.gov.uk.

Boost have a wide range of events and activities every month. For our latest bulletin, click here.

BOOST employment services include:

• confidence building
• identifying skills
• creating CVs
• searching and applying for jobs
• interview preparation

BOOST run regular Job Clubs and Meet the Employer Events

BOOST run digital skills sessions and have access to low cost IT devices and free SIM cards

BOOST work with a network of partners to help clients get specialist help.

This partner support includes assistance with:

• income maximisation
• applying for Govt Benefits
• applying for Council grants
• housing issues
• external advice eg CAB
• specialist employment support
• finding volunteering

Click the links below to access our Jobs Plus or UKSPF pages.

Burnt Oak Library
Edgware, HA8 0UB
Monday to Friday 9.00-4.00

184 Cricklewood Lane
Cricklewood, NW2 8DX
Monday – Thursday 10.00-4.00

Chipping Barnet Library,
EN5 4QT
Tuesdays 10.00-4.00

Main office address: Ground Floor, Burnt Oak Library, 99 Watling Avenue, Edgware, HA8 0UB
Phone: 0208 359 2442
Email: boost@barnet.gov.uk

BOOST was originally set up in 2015 as a two-year project to help the residents of Burnt Oak to find work and get help to navigate public services. The project met all its targets and was considered successful enough to be replicated in Childs Hill NW2 in 2017. I have been lucky enough to manage the Boost team since 2018 and in that time have overseen our transformation into the main employment brokerage service for Barnet Council and provider of externally funded employment contracts. We think of ourselves as a family who look out for each other and help clients in a professional and friendly way. Find out about our recent success in the latest Annual Report.

I’d like to conclude by telling you about our values which as a team we agreed are the things that make BOOST special:

• No-one left behind – ‘we try to help everyone regardless of difficulty’
• Take Ownership – ‘if we see it we sort it’
• Don’t judge – ‘we understand people’s lives are complicated’
• Keep it Simple – ‘we look for the easiest practical way to help’
• Its OK to fail as long as we learn – ‘we can’t succeed without trying something new’
• Do at least one thing that makes a difference – ‘we take action’

Lawrence Graham, BOOST Manager

If you live work or study in the borough of Barnet then you are eligible to receive assistance from BOOST. To find out more and get signed up click here.