Alicja
A friend invited me to the local community centre. I’m now a regular in the classes and I volunteer there once a month. With so much going on in Haringey, I check the library noticeboard every week to keep up-to-date.
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Scroll down the page to view the next sections: 'How to get involved' and 'Haringey challenge'.
Key information
1. There are social groups and activities for everyone in Haringey!
No matter what your interests are, you will be able to find a social or activity group that suits you. There are many free or low-cost options, including activities for children and families, and classes for adults to learn new skills and meet together.
2. People can seem unfriendly at first but give them a chance!
It can seem this way especially when people are rushing around, especially during work hours but we’ve learned that most people are willing to help if they can.
3. Get in touch with your local library and Haringey council to discover groups, events and activities
There are things going on every week in Haringey, with new additions during holidays. Keep up-to-date by:
- Visiting the Haringey Council online database here
- Following the Haringey Council Twitter account here
- Visiting your local Haringey library - ask about groups and activities, and look at the noticeboard regularly
4. Meet people by volunteering your time and sharing your skills
People love developing new skills, trying new foods and learning about new languages and cultures. It’s also a great way to meet people and keep in touch with what’s going on. There are a number of places who can help you get started:
- Visit our dedicated page ‘Gain skills and experience’ to learn more.
5. Socialising with other people will help to improve your English
Learning English is not just about the language - it’s getting to know local accents, phrases and mannerisms. We all felt out of our comfort zone at first, but once we started chatting with local people in English, our confidence grew and we learned faster. Why not try saying hello to a neighbour or a local shopkeeper?
6. Check out our other sections for places to visit and non-regular events
In this section, we focus on getting involved in local groups and activities. We also have dedicated sections that tell you about ‘Things to do in and around Haringey’ and keep you in touch with ‘Events’ that take place at various times of the year.
How to get involved
There are so many groups and activities running regularly in Haringey, it’s difficult to list them all! Here, we will help you find something that matches your interest. Don’t forget to also explore our other sections:
Which groups and activities can I join?
No matter what your interests are, you will be able to find a social or activity group that suits you. Here we list examples of activities for the main groups in Haringey, but there is a lot more on offer!
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For women & men
- For women - local discussion and support groups about women’s health & wellbeing
- For men - local discussion and support groups (‘A band of brothers’)
- Sports - weekly kick arounds and clubs
- Arts & crafts activities
- Workshops to support new parents, develop new skills and gain work experience
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For children
- Sports e.g swimming, dance, martial arts
- Reading groups & book clubs
- Arts & craft activities
- Theatre and drama workshops
- Parent and toddler groups e.g. creative classes, soft play
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For people with disabilities
- Social clubs and meetups e.g. campaigning for better local services
- Sports - weekly cycling, swimming and gaming sessions
- Dedicated community gardens
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For older people
- Meetups over an afternoon tea or morning coffee
- Arts & craft activities
- Sports - weekly dance classes, fitness sessions (people aged over 65 can apply to use leisure centres in Haringey for free!)
- Reading groups & book clubs
- Gardening clubs & community gardens
- Workshops to learn new skills e.g. computer training
How do I find and join groups and activities?
We advise you to visit a few key places where you can speak to an advisor and find the best fit for you.
- Check before you visit - many organisations are running remote or limited services because of Coronavirus
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Ask at your local library
The library is not only for borrowing books! It’s also an excellent place to find out about activities and what’s going on in the local area. Most libraries have a noticeboard where they post information. They also host weekly free or low-cost activities.
- Register before you use their services - read more in our dedicated section ‘Registering with your local library’
- Visit your local library - find out how here
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Visit a local community centre
Community centres are a place for people living in the area to meet for events, classes and activities. Some offer services for all people, while others are focused on particular ages, needs and backgrounds. You may need to register with them first by completing a short form but most allow you just to drop-in. Haringey has a number of centres, but here we mention the larger ones that support all people. Learn how to get in touch with them here:
- The Community Hub
- Chestnuts Community Centre
- Selby Centre
- Northumberland Park Resource Centre
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Search the Haringey Council website
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Visit a local Children’s Centre
Children’s Centres provide advice to families, good quality childcare, information and support. It’s a great place to discover what’s available for parents and children, with many hosting their own activities.
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Visit a religious centre
Many religious centres host activities and events for the local community. You can usually get involved, regardless of your religious beliefs.
- Drop-in - you don’t need to register to access their services
- Search for your local centre - enter keywords in the search bar of a free navigation app like Google Maps, e.g. church
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Visit the Connected Communities team
The team provides support to people settling in Haringey on a range of topics from learning English to developing skills to find work.
- Drop-in - you don’t need to register or make an appointment to access their services
- Visit Connected Communities - find out how here
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Visit a migrant support group
There are organisations in Haringey who support people from certain countries and regions. For example, House of Polish & European Community supports people from Poland and other European countries, while the PEEC Family Centre supports those of Central and Eastern European origin. They often run their own activities, or they can direct you to other groups who can help.
- Drop-in - you don’t need to register but you may need to make an appointment to access some services
- Find a migrant support group - see our dedicated section ‘Other help and support’ for further details
Haringey challenge
Exchange stamps for local rewards
Collect a Haringey stamp each time you attend an activity or local group. When your stamp card is complete, you can exchange it for a local reward such as a free activity at Fusion Lifestyle! Follow the steps below...
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1. Collect a ‘Haringey Challenge’ stamp card
Visit the Connected Communities team and show this app on your smartphone to collect a stamp card
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2. Attend an activity or local group from the list below
Show your stamp card to a staff member along with this app on your smartphone. They will give you one stamp for each visit.
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3. Exchange stamps for local rewards
Once your stamp card is complete, exchange it for a reward:
- Swap 5 stamps for a DVD or audio rental at any Haringey library
- Swap 10 stamps for an activity at Fusion Lifestyle, Tottenham Green Pools & Fitness (1 Philip Lane, London, N15 4JA)
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4. Collect a new card and repeat the process!
We will add new organisations and groups overtime, so check back in with us.