Ten Grand Arcade is a thriving art gallery, business start-up hub and space for community use which has been set up and managed by the North Finchley Town Team and has been fully functioning since June 2014.

Percy Road Park has been refurbished as a community project with the support of the North Finchley Town Team which will be completed in the autumn of 2015.

With these and other projects the Town Team aims to harness the energy of community groups, to encourage engagement with other stakeholders and to implement a shared vision.

The Town Team aims to expand engagement developing a programme of activity that shapes a positive, inclusive future for North Finchley’s communities building a sense of place that is being celebrated with pride.

What we'll deliver:

• Provide a platform for local community groups to have access to low-cost community space
• Be a base for new start-up businesses to enable them to strengthen their offer and share knowledge
• Provide a platform for established local artists and emerging artists
• Support the launch of emerging community projects such as Percy Road Park refurbishment
• Enable greater engagement and involvement with Middlesex University’s Museum of Art and Design
• Work with Barnet Borough Skills and Enterprise team to support start-up businesses
• Work with our partners and stakeholders to promote summer and winter community events
• Capitalise on two years of community engagement, recruiting 20 more volunteer activists
• Provide a meeting and thinking space to enable more people to become involved in creating activity in the town centre

Why it's a great idea:

Suburbs like North Finchley face distinctive challenges to future growth as commuter populations spend limited time shopping or socialising locally. Like other outer London suburbs, North Finchley town centre suffers from a declining sense of belonging and declining footfall.

The Town Team aims to overcome these obstacles by expanding engagement and developing a programme of community activity that shapes a more positive, inclusive future for North Finchley’s communities and local businesses.The North Finchley Town Team will capitalise on two years of community engagement, to open up much needed discussion about the future prospects of some of the more challenging aspects of our town centre, bringing people together to develop and direct changes that make a real difference.

Steps to get it done:

• The Town Team will fund the required commercial rental to sustain the Ten Grand Arcade project
• The Town team will provide experienced governance and support to the Ten Grand Arcade poroject
• We will develop and deliver a community engagement programme including Winter and Summer festivals
• Recruit further volunteer activists (at least 20)
• Continue to engage with partners: LBB, Arts Depot, Trinity Centre, MODA, FSB, Middx Uni, Age UK Barnet, Prince's Trust
• Evaluate, review and redevelop our projects
• Seek ongoing funding to develop these and other projects

Ten Grand Arcade project will provide a base for cultural, community and art related activities.

The North Finchley Town Team will encourage experimentation and research, and open up access to technical or specialist support, encouragement and guidance. The Town Team will aim to bring together the resources of the local community, particularly arts groups, to benefit everyone in the community.