Community Sport & Health Update

Club Games – Walking Football, Pickleball at Velo Park

Barnet Walking Football team took part in the 2026 Club Games competing against nine other boroughs.  Each match was 15 minutes long with each team awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss. Barnet had a team of seven players and put in an excellent performance throughout the day, securing victories against all nine boroughs they faced. Their consistent results saw Barnet finish at the top of the standings and be crowned tournament winners, demonstrating great teamwork, determination and sportsmanship throughout the competition.

Pickleball

Barnet took part in the Pickleball tournament with two teams representing the borough. Both teams performed exceptionally well throughout the competition, demonstrating great teamwork, determination and enthusiasm while winning 4 out of 6 games. Their strong performances saw both teams progress through to the semi finals.   Although neither team was able to secure a place in the final, reaching the semi-final stage was a fantastic achievement and reflected the hard work and effort shown by all players throughout the tournament.

New Hendon Gymnasium Launch

On 6th September 2026, Hendon Leisure Centre celebrated a significant investment of more than £100,000 funded by GLL, which has transformed its gymnasium and created an improved training environment for gymnasts of all ages and abilities. The investment has supported a range of improvements across the facility, including upgrades to the foam pits, training areas and gymnastics equipment. These improvements provide existing members with a higher-quality environment to train and develop their skills

Hendon Gymnastics currently has a significant number of gymnasts enrolled across its lessons and courses, including Samuel Newman Kemp, who is part of the GB Junior Squad. The club is also proud to have five Hendon gymnasts selected for the 2026 GLL Sport Foundation athlete cohort, recognising their talent and helping to support their continued development in sport.

The official launch brought together the Mayor of Barnet Councillor Zahra Beg, local residents, gymnasts and their families alongside the Hendon Leisure Centre team. The Mayor took part in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the refurbishment and celebrate the new facility. To celebrate the launch, a special promotional code was also made available, giving potential new customers the opportunity to try the new equipment and experience the improved gymnastics facility for just £2.

The investment forms part of GLL's continued commitment to improving its facilities and providing accessible opportunities for local communities to be active. The upgraded gymnasium provides a modern and improved training space where participants can build confidence, develop new skills and progress in gymnastics. The refurbishment and launch event were also promoted through Barnet First Magazine, the council-led publication distributed to residents across the borough.

Ansell Court Hub Net Work Session

On Tuesday 15th September, the Barnet Community Sports Officer held a continuing Hub Network activity session for residents living at Ansell Court, an assisted living accommodation delivered in partnership with Your Choice Barnet and Barnet Homes.

The sessions aim to encourage residents to stay active and enjoy taking part in sport and physical activity. They also provide an opportunity for residents to socialise, build confidence and meet other people within the accommodation.

A key focus of the sessions is ensuring that everyone can participate. With some residents using wheelchairs and others having limited mobility alongside some with learning difficulties, all the activities are adapted to suit different abilities and ensure that everyone can get involved.

This was the residents second session with 14 residents taking part. The session was a fun balloon based activity, including passing the balloon to each other, hitting the balloon from hand to hand and working together to keep multiple balloons in the air and moving around the room. The session was well received, with all residents participating and already suggesting bowling as an activity they would like to try in future sessions.

The Barnet Community Sports Officer encouraged residents to have a say in the activities they would like to try. By allowing residents to choose activities that interest them, the sessions can remain engaging and enjoyable while encouraging more residents to take part and give physical activity a go.

Society Event – Zorb football and BBQ

On Saturday 26th September Flora Hadijvarnava General Manager at Finchley Lido organised a Society Zorb Football and BBQ event, bringing together 19 members of staff from Barnet’s leisure centres for an evening of fun, team building and friendly competition.

The evening started with a game of football before moving on to Bulldog and Dodgeball, giving everyone the opportunity to get involved and enjoy some friendly competition.

After the activities, staff enjoyed a BBQ and drinks, providing a chance to relax and socialise together. Overall, it was a fantastic and fun filled evening for everyone who attended.