Charli Anne Thompson on a community’s call for unity against hate

A workshop at New Citizens Gateway (Credit – Charli Anne Thompson)

In August 2024 far-right extremism and violence reared its ugly head across our country. We witnessed horrific attacks on Mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers, and xenophobia in the street. Finchley became a target, which shook us all.

Nevertheless Barnet refuses to be divided by fear and hate. In response, members of the Barnet community chose to stand together and build something that embodies our strength and resilience: a quilted banner made by and for the people, representing everything that binds us together in the face of attempts to tear us apart.

The CommUnity Quilt Project was born from an urgency to push back against hatred. Each patch of this quilt will represent more than just an act of creativity; it will be a public statement, a message of defiance against those who seek to fracture us. All ages and races, refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum, long-term residents, children and young people, elders, faith and community organisations will contribute. As individuals or as groups we will create fabric patches that tell our stories and share our joint vision of a unified Barnet.

Some patches may be bold with colour, showcasing symbols of heritage and hope, while others may be quieter, personal reflections on the pain of displacement or the strength found in community. Together, they will form a powerful communal story of solidarity.

So, the quilt is much more than an art project, it is a declaration that Barnet will not bow to fear. It is a testament to the fact that while some may try to divide us, they will never succeed.

The process of creating the quilt will be a way to connect people who might never have met. Conversations that begin over fabric and thread will evolve into discussions about our shared experiences, hopes, and fears. In the act of sewing, we will start to stitch together not only fabric, but the fragmented pieces of our community.

When the quilt is finally assembled as a banner, it will become a symbol of our resistance and our vision for the future of Barnet and beyond. We will march with our banner through Barnet and paint our streets with the colours of hope. Every step we take, every voice raised, will be a reminder that our community stands strong and unbroken, woven together by our shared commitment to unity.

Following our march the quilt banner will be displayed publicly across the borough as a reminder that in the face of division, we chose to create something beautiful together.

The quilt is just the beginning. It is not an endpoint, but a launchpad for continued action. The threads that bind us will become stronger, and the quilt banner will live on as a clarion call to build lasting connections, strengthen our solidarity, and continue to stand against hate. Perhaps an annual banner march. Who knows? Patches are already being made and workshops have been underway across Barnet.

Our first workshops were hosted by New Citizens Gateway who support refugees and asylum seekers across London. If you want to be part of our story and get involved please join us at our upcoming FREE public workshop.

All are welcome – no experience needed! Materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. Let’s stitch together stories of love, peace, and solidarity.

Venue: Finchley Church End Library, Regents Park Road, N3 2LN

Dates & Times:

Mon 31 Mar 2025: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Visit our website to find out more. https://communityquiltbarnet.carrd.co/

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