Hey Neighbour,
It’s hot in London right now, and as I write this, I’m dreaming of iced coffee… or just being soaked in a tub of ice.
The good news? The heat gives you the perfect reason to actually leave the house.
Did you catch yesterday’s email? It was packed with events to help you make new memories. If you missed it, check your inbox or spam folder — or catch up here.
Today’s edition is all about borough updates.
If this email were a burger, it would come stacked with council drama, a dollop of funding news, and a few surprise pickles you didn’t see coming.
Skip to What You Like:
📍 Top of the Week
🗝️ Did You Know?
📰 Borough News
→ Camden
→ Haringey
→ Barnet
→ Islington
🌀 Weekly Round-Up
Alright, let’s get into it. 👇
— Maryam
Top of the week
Haringey and Barnet say enough’s enough
The two boroughs say local government funding just isn’t working and they’ve written to the Chancellor to explain why.
Some context:
📉 Haringey gets 15 percent less funding per person than the national average
📉 Barnet gets 20 percent less, even though it’s one of the largest boroughs in London
🏘️ Barnet now has nearly 3,000 households in temporary accommodation
🧠 It also supports the most working-age adults with learning disabilities in all of London
📈 Haringey’s housing costs jumped 72 percent in just one year
Both councils say they have already made years of efficiency savings.
But now they are being pushed into applying for emergency support just to stay afloat.
Source: Barnet.gov
Their message is clear. Funding should reflect real local needs. The system needs a serious facelift. Read more here.
⚡️ Camden Just Dropped Its Future Plan
Camden Council just published a 15-year plan for how the borough could grow and change. They’re inviting locals to weigh in.
Here’s what’s on the table:
🏘️ 11,000 new homes (with some affordable)
🌳 Climate-friendly development
🛴 More walking, less driving
🏞️ New public spaces and better local infrastructure
Why it matters
This isn’t just another council doc. It will shape Camden through 2041. Whether you rent, raise kids or just care where the next green space or lift access goes, this is your chance to speak up. Consultation closes 27 June. Click here to learn more.
Did you know?
🔥 Ally Pally opened in 1873… then burned down 16 days later.
No, really. The original Alexandra Palace barely lasted two weeks before going up in flames. It was rebuilt (bigger than ever) by 1875 and the rest is North London history.
Source: alexandrapalace.com
Borough News
📍 Camden
💸Funding
Two Ways to Get Involved in Camden’s £2M Fund
The new Community Wealth Fund will invest in local businesses and projects that support young people and increase diversity in leadership.
You can
🧠 Apply for funding. Free support session on 19 June
🗳 Join the paid Diversity Panel and help decide where the money goes. Apply by 6 August
📍 Open to anyone who lives, works or studies in Camden
🔗 See if it’s for you
🎙️ Spotlight Event
Race, Justice and Camden’s Legacy
What: The Annual Pitt Lecture, marking 60 years since the Race Relations Act
When: Thursday 19 June from 7 to 9 PM
Where: Bloomsbury Theatre, WC1H
Baroness Lola Young will reflect on the Act’s legacy and what justice, identity and inclusion mean today. The evening honours Lord David Pitt, a pioneering anti-racism campaigner who lived and worked in Camden.
📍 Haringey
The air in Haringey? Not great. And the council knows it.
Haringey Council has drafted a five-year plan to clean up the air and they’re asking locals to weigh in.
Why it matters:
Air pollution causes around 100 deaths a year in Haringey. That’s not just a stat. It’s lives cut short in the same streets we walk, cycle, and raise our kids.
The plan includes:
🚲 Safer cycle routes on Tottenham High Road
🚙 More bike hangars (Bruce Grove, they’ve heard you)
🌳 Better air monitoring and fewer trees being chopped
🚗 Support for car clubs and 20mph enforcement
Now they want to hear from you, including what changes you’d actually be up for.
🗓️ Drop-in: Thurs 26 June, 2 to 5pm at Chestnuts Community Centre
📍More sessions coming to Wood Green Library (dates TBC)
📝 Survey open until Tues 15 July
📍 Barnet
Tennis, anyone?
Source: Barnet.gov
Barnet’s newly revamped tennis courts are a hit, literally. More than 1,000 residents have joined the council’s affordable membership scheme, which gives access to 41 upgraded courts across 21 parks.
Here’s what’s included:
Online booking system
Coaching sessions available
Two one-hour games a week for £36.15 a year (£15.50 for concessions)
So whether you're a regular server or just trying to rally this summer. You can sign up here.
🎤 Barnet residents had questions. Lots of them.
Over 160 locals tuned in this week to ask Barnet Council’s Leader and Cabinet about some big topics:
Where are we on parking and development?
What’s the plan for school funding?
Can we fix the fly-tipping issue?
And… How's the budget holding up?
🎥 Missed it? Watch the full replay here.
📅 Next Barnet Question Time: coming this autumn.
📍 Islington
Islington Council vs. a food bank
What’s going on?
Islington Council is taking a food bank to court for allegedly occupying council land without permission.
Wait, what?
Yep. Islington Foodbank, which has fed over 46,000 people in the past decade, is accused of using council-owned land without a formal agreement. They’ve been running out of a shipping container and cabin near Highbury Roundhouse for years. The council now wants them off the site.
Why the drama?
The council offered a one-year licence with a one-month eviction clause. The food bank refused to sign, saying they’d have nowhere else to go. They also said the council went quiet after promising to help them find a new space.
What’s next?
Court date is July 1. Local councillors are calling for a resolution quickly. If the food bank is forced to leave, thousands of families could be left without support. You can read more about here.
Weekly Round-Up
🪩 Tesco said: let’s party like it’s 1995
To celebrate 30 years of Clubcard, Tesco’s throwing a two-day 90s rave in Soho. Think Blue, B*Witched, free drinks, temporary tattoos, and oh yes, a claw machine. Tickets are technically sold out but word on the street is, they’re accepting walk-ins.
The Vinyl Factory | July 4–5
🖥️ Your browser history might land you a date (yep, really)
A new app called Browser Dating skips pics and bios, and matches people based on their browser history. It uses your last 5,000 searches to find someone just as obsessed with cat memes and conspiracy theories as you. Kinda genius. Kinda terrifying.
Be honest: would you let your search history play matchmaker? …👀
👩⚕️ Health update
From July, women aged 25 to 49 in England will be invited for cervical screening every five years if their HPV test is negative. Read more here.
🍽️ Farm to family
£13.6m in new grants will help get surplus food to charities, food banks and shelters across England. Read more here.
What do you think of our new format?
Thanks for reading My North London! Let’s chat again next Thursday!
