Three new community organisers have started knocking on doors to bring people together in Barnet.

Trainee community organisers Anna Kasmir from Whetstone, Katherine Wilkinson from Burnt Oak and Paulette Singer from Cricklewood have just finished their first week knocking on doors in Burnt Oak, Grahame Park and West Hendon.

The three women are part of a national programme, Community Organisers, which is recruiting 5,000 people nationwide to work in local communities to bring people together, listen to ideas, build networks and support people in tackling the local issues which are important to them.

Ms Kasmir, who has previously worked with charities, said: “It’s been great getting to know Burnt Oak and speaking to people.

“I see my role as listening to people and finding out what concerns people have and what their vision is. I’m going to be talking to individuals and linking them up with others who share the same interests.

”The first thing I ask people when they open the door is ‘What do you love about Burnt Oak?’ I get mixed reactions from people, encouraging them to see the community in a different way."

Ms Wilkinson added: “I have lived in the area for 30 years and know the problems and potential of Grahame Park.  I believe wellbeing is important, it is important to enhance the lives of people whether young or old.

Ms Wilkinson said the project was in its early days, but she was already working to find out what people thought about Grahame Park and encourage them to challenge negative perceptions.

She added: “There are lots of people in Grahame Park, West Hendon and Burnt Oak who have not realised their full potential, we're trying to show them the opportunities out there."

Ms Singer, who had worked with homeless organisations for many years, signed up to be a community organiser after realising she did not know her neighbours and felt isolated from her community.

She said: “People are living in an isolating society; they don’t take time to talk to other people in their community. We’re working to break down barriers between people, regardless of class or race.”

“The idea of community organisers is to empower people by encouraging them to speak for themselves. Even people who seem to be sceptical about our role are willing to talk, even if they are cynical about people knocking on their doors they want to be heard.”

"People think of the issues in West Hendon rather than the opportunities. We're here to help people realise their vision."

The community organisers belong to an independent organisation which is not linked to Barnet Borough Council. They are currently hosted by Community Barnet, which put in the bid to have them.

The community organisers will spend the next year on their respective patches before moving on to other things.

Mrs Wilkinson said: “We’re going to be here for the next year, which gives continuity.  Our role is not doing things for others but getting people to do things for themselves."

Ms Kasmir added: “I’m hoping the work I start will continue beyond me.  I see myself as a catalyst, the networks formed by the community will keep on going, this is only the start.”