MEP Marina Yannakoudakis was among a Conservative group brought by Barnet Council leader Mike Freer to Norwood’s Buckets and Spades Lodge in Finchley on Mitzvah Day.

Buckets and Spades offers short breaks for children and young people with disabilities and the Tories helped to compile books of pictures or symbols which ease communication. They then helped to create a herb garden, whose produce will be used to prepare healthy meals. “It was good fun and a nice way of finding out more about what Buckets and Spades and Norwood do at first hand,” Councillor Freer said. It was important to find time for “an organisation that does so much good work”.

Elsewhere, a group from the Edgware Reform cheder painted a flower mural at Norwood’s Kennedy Leigh Children and Family Centre in Hendon. And women from the Cockfosters and Southgate area staged a puppet show for which audience members were asked to bring toys which will be given on Chanucah to children who use Buckets and Spades and the Unity recreational service. A raffle raised £350 for the charity.

Singer Jodie Beth Meyer, who has toured the country in High School Musical, gave a solo concert at Norwood’s residential home in Hendon.

Thanking those who were involved, Norwood chief executive Norma Brier added: “I’d be delighted if Mitzvah Day encouraged just a few people to sign up as regular Norwood volunteers.”