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Children and young people under the age of 19 make up a quarter of the total number of people living in Barnet. That’s almost 100,000 children and young people using local services and attending our schools and colleges.  With this many children living in our borough, we want Barnet to be a family-friendly place to live and go to school.  To help us get it right, we want children, young people and families living here to tell us how well we are doing, what we need to do differently, and help us make the changes they want to see.

Underhill The Old Red Lion at Underhill started sometime in the 1720s. From the Red Lion up to High Barnet the main road ran a little to the south of its present line, and entered High Barnet where Victoria Lane is today. The hill was very steep, and the Red Lion in Underhill would provide coaches climbing Barnet Hill with an extra pair of horses - sometimes called a Hercules pair. In the 1820s the road was rebuilt and the gradient lessened.

There may be situations where you can no longer live at home with your family. This could be for a number of reasons - illness, a family breakdown or break-up, or parents or carers who are unable to provide you with the right sort of care and protection. Initially, we see if there are friends or relatives who could look after you. If this is not possible or appropriate, then we will find you accommodation and you will become 'looked after' by Barnet Council.

Barnet Council are responsible for the care and support you receive while you are in our care. The responsibility for corporate parenting sits with the whole council, Councillors, community services, education support, schools, and health services. As your ‘Corporate Parents’, we are committed to make sure that we are effective parents that ensure you are safeguarded and that you are provided with the opportunities you need to achieve the best in your childhood, adolescents and adulthood.

Advocacy Services Advocacy Services can help you to express your views and making sure that these views are taken seriously.  An advocacy service will provide you with an independent advocate when situations occur that need to be mediated and a trained professional can advocate on your behalf, ensuring your rights are respected and that your views and wishes are heard.  An advocate: 

Barnet Virtual School supports the education of all young people who are looked after by the Borough of Barnet and all those who have been previously looked after up to the age of 25. We also have strategic duties for all children with a social worker.  We are here to make sure all our young people are getting the best educational opportunities and are dedicated to helping you get the best you can from your educational experience so you have exciting choices later in life. 

Onwards and Upwards is a vibrant centre based at Woodhouse Road. The centre provides opportunities and support to our care experienced young people and children in care in the through care team or the unaccompanied asylum-seeking children’s (UASC) team.  You can receive support from the service, Monday to Friday between 9.15am - 4.45pm. The following services are available on-site:  

We aim to provide the best possible service to you and welcome any feedback you may have about the service you receive. We need your feedback to ensure that we are always learning and improving our services to you and other children, young people and families who access our services.