All families face challenges and sometimes need support. Early Help is about providing this support as soon as possible to tackle difficulties for children, young people and families before they become more serious. We work with the whole family and the child / young person is at the centre of all we do.

Working with partners, Barnet’s 0-19 Service provides help and support to families, children and young people up to the age of 19 (or 25 with a disability).

The 0-19 Early Help Hub Service have ceased group activities for the time being, but we are working on developing a virtual platform for some of our parenting groups and activities. 

Here you will find a selection of tools and devices to engage young people within the home and also together via the resources we all have around us. Find out more check out Free Activities & Resources.

We are adapting the way in which we work and also communicate with young people due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Working together to support Communities

Community groups across our borough are pulling together in an unprecedented way to support vulnerable people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

The Community Help Hub to create a network of local support that will help our communities remain resilient as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds. We will be updating this page daily with more information about where you can get help, and how you can get involved.

FInd out more about how Barnet is Helping Children Back to School - click here

Message from Cllr Dan Thomas, Leader of Barnet Council

“The Government has now directed schools to plan to get many more children back into the classroom, starting from June. Our priority is to ensure that Barnet’s learning spaces are safe for all to be in. Every school is first looking at the potential risks of returning more children to the classroom and how they can reduce the overall risks for pupils and for staff. We need to remember that each school is different and will only open when they are confident that they can provide a safe environment.”

Over 165 term time and holiday programmes were delivered to young people aged 0-19 across the Borough of Barnet last year. 

Young people have the chance to engage, learn and develop new skills amongst a variety of activities and courses such as Water Sports, Lego Animation, Nail Art & Skateboarding. Start your own business, look after Horses, Steel Pans, Keyboard, Guitar. Or take up  Multisports, Dance, Music, Radio and Recording production sessions in Rithmik Studios. The list is endless. Go to Courses to find out more!

Early Help Services in Barnet recognise that many families will continue to need help and support, particularly while children are spending more time at home. We are working hard to ensure that we continue to deliver some 0-19 Early Help Services, albeit in a different way.

We have needed to cease group activities for the time being but we are working with our providers to develop online access to activities where possible. We will update our webpage when these are available. www.barnet.gov.uk/0-19 and www.barnetyouth.uk

C​​hildren and Young People can access free, online mental health support 365 days a year! 

Kooth is a web based confidential support service available to young people. Kooth provides a safe and secure means of accessing mental health and wellbeing support designed specifically for young people. 

Kooth offers young people the opportunity to have a text-based conversation with a qualified counsellor. Counsellors are available from 12noon-10pm on weekdays and 6pm-10pm on weekends, every day of the year on a drop-in basis. young people can access regular booked online counselling sessions as needed. outside counselling hours' young people can message our team and get support by the next day. 

When students register with Kooth they will have support available to them now and in the future. Support can be gained not only through counselling but articles, forums and discussion boards. All content is age appropriate, clinically approved and fully moderated. 

To find out more visit www.Kooth.com where young people can register and others can find out more about the services.