Charli Anne Thompson on a community procession

Promotional poster for Barnet Unity Parade on 15th June

On the eve of Refugee Week, we are inviting everyone in Barnet to take part in the Unity Parade, a family-friendly procession celebrating creativity, diversity and solidarity across our borough.

On Sunday 15th June at 2pm, we will be walking from Swan Lane Open Space in Whetstone to Victoria Park in Finchley. We will be carrying three large quilted banners made up of over 150 patches created by individuals and groups across Barnet for the Community Quilt Project. Each patch tells a story of belonging, identity, and care, stitched together as a collective act of resistance to the rise in far-right activity and threats to our Finchley community in August last year.

This is a grassroots, community-led event and everyone is welcome, whether you helped make the quilts or are simply showing up to stand for unity in Barnet. Bring your family and friends, bring a picnic for the park afterwards, and bring your energy!

We warmly welcome community groups, cultural organisations, trade unions, and others to walk with us, and invite anyone with a drum, instrument, costume, or dance to bring it along and add to the atmosphere. Let’s make it colourful, joyful and reflective of the diversity that makes Barnet home to us all.

We would also love to see local cafés and shops along the route join in the spirit by decorating their windows or simply waving us on as we pass.

This is more than a march, it is a celebration of the community we are building together.

The walk is about 1.5 miles and is accessible using a wheelchair, but feel free to join us at any point along the route. We will have stewards to help guide the procession and keep us safe on the road.

To find out more or to get involved visit communityquiltbarnet.carrd.co

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