Congratulations to everyone who participated in the march against cuts and privatisation on Sunday 30 January. A great turnout, a vigorous march of angry people, and an entertaining and educational afternoon at our rally in the Arts Depot. Thanks to the Arts Depot for hosting us (the place was full, as well with us, of young families enjoying the cafe, the play area and the Cuban music). There's a set of pictures here.

Barnet council is suddenly very keen on pledges. Well, when they heard that North Finchley children's centre is due to close as a result of the planned cuts, the parents who use it PLEDGED to save it. To contact the campaign, email [email protected].

Young people in Barnet are putting the question below at the Youth Board on Thursday 27 January. It refers to the fact that the council plans to close the entire youth service over the course of the next four years. Would it be possible to clarify the certainty of the following cuts, as phrased in a report to the council published in December last year? • In year 3 (2013/14) “cease all remaining activity to support young people through youth

There is the GoPetition "Stop Barnet Council’s Increased Motoring Taxes" (currently on 3,390 signatures - way to go!): http://www.gopetition.com/petition/41889.html And there is now the petition on Barnet council's own official petition site, "We Are Not Cash Cows", which they surely have to take note of: http://petitions.barnet.gov.uk/wearenotcashcows/  Please sign both, and spread the word!

Join up to Barnet Alliance on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BarnetAlliance If you have other tips on using social media to spread the word about the fight against cuts and privatisation in Barnet, please get in touch.  [email protected]

The Barnet Alliance has (12 January 2011) published a four-page newspaper, "Our Barnet", giving an overview of the cuts proposed in Barnet and of the council's easyCouncil project (now renamed One Barnet). It also features a "Save the libraries" column by Roger Tichborne, the Barnet Eye blogger. Click to access: Our Barnet (Jan 2011)    If you can distribute copies in your area or want a speaker for a meeting, please email [email protected]

Tanya Novick By Tanya Novick The Jasmine Women's Group is a creative project between Barnet Refugee Service and the artsdepot. The group is for refugee and asylum seeking women, some of whom are destitute; it meets weekly at the artsdepot. (more...)

Staff and service users of the Arts Depot in North Finchley demonstrated outside the North London Business Park today, Monday 10 January 2011, to protest the impending cuts to its core funding, announced by Barnet council on 3 December. The protesters, including residents of Barnet and members of Barnet Alliance 4 Public Services, were not allowed into the business park where they planned to express their dissatisfaction directly in front of the

The cuts planned by Barnet council threaten to remove three vital institutions that, put simply, safeguard art and history across the borough. All these institutions need your support. We need them all! In Hendon, Church Farmhouse Museum is threatened with closure. Visit the website of the Friends here and sign their petition. In Finchley, the Arts Depot will be able to do far less if the council goes ahead with withdrawing the funding they give

In December Barnet council announced that it wants to cut all the funding it gives to the artsdepot in north Finchley, the only professional arts venue in the borough. The artsdepot commented: In the past financial year, artsdepot received £194,000 from Barnet Borough Council, amounting to 11% of its overall turnover. Comparable arts venues in six other London boroughs received local authority support amounting to between £226,000 and £650,000,