Barking and Dagenham were left celebrating a major milestone after receiving the Mayor’s Cultural Impact Award at the London Borough of Culture awards on Tuesday.

The Mayor of London set a challenge for every borough in London to propose a year-long programme of world-class cultural events and initiatives and developed a plan to make culture an integral part of the borough’s future.

Despite missing out on the big Borough of Culture prizes for 2019 and 2020, Barking and Dagenham still had plenty of reason to celebrate after celebrating three new projects that will receive £243,000 of funding from the GLA.

The New Town Culture project will be a three year programme for young people led by historians, writers and artists that will see the building of a new public work of art for children on Barking Riverside.

Radio Ballads will chart the history of work in our Borough – most notably the local histories of trade unions, women’s employment rights, and what work is like now and will be in the future..

It is based on the original BBC Radio Ballads series aired on BBC radio in the early 1960s and documented the working lives of British people.

Four artists will work with older people in the borough to create separate programmes that will tell the story of working life in east London and it is planned that these will be broadcast on local radio.

The third stand is called Culture in Care which is a creative programme for young people and older people in care settings.

We are a unique borough and the time is right for Barking and Dagenham to make a commitment to the role of culture in every aspect of life in the borough

Councillor Darren Rodwell, leader of the council, said: “We are really pleased that the mayor has recognised what we are doing in Barking and Dagenham and everyone should feel proud to have played their part.

“It would have been nice to have received one of the top two awards, but reflection is always important, and four-years-ago we would not have even gone for this.

“We are a unique borough and the time is right for Barking and Dagenham to make a commitment to the role of culture in every aspect of life in the borough.

“Culture helps our economy by creating jobs and supporting young people to realise their potential. It strengthens the distinctive identity of our borough.”

The Mayor was quick to extend his congratulations to Barking and Dagenham and hopes the project will embed cultural activity into social care in the borough.

He said: “Culture can have a hugely powerful impact on people’s health and wellbeing, which is why I’m delighted to support Barking and Dagenham’s creative project, which embeds cultural activity in social care – working with looked-after children and care leavers.”