Councillor Sanchia Alasia has been appointed as the new Mayor for Barking and Dagenham.

During her year in charge, she has pledged to serve the whole borough that values and celebrates its diverse cultural communities and hopes to encourage young people to take an interest in health-related issues during 2018-19.

Having worked in human resources for over ten years in various public-sector organisations, she is an award-winning HR and diversity specialist.

Councillor Alasia currently works at Brunel University London as Equality and Diversity manager and was elected as a councillor representing Alibon Ward back in May 2010.

Over that time, she has supported and represented residents on a number of issues relating to healthcare, schools, planning applications and individual personal cases.

She currently serves as a governor at the Richard Alibon primary school and has also served as deputy chair and chair of the health scrutiny committee and planning committee.

Councillor Alasia was born in the town of Cambridge in the district of St James in Jamaica in 1980 and was brought to London by her mother when she was three months old.

My general theme will be that, ‘no-one should be left behind’, with a particular focus on people with disabilities

She moved to Dagenham in 2007 after being attracted by the many green spaces that the borough has to offer and now wants to ensure that residents from all walks of life engage with and contribute to the life of the borough.

Charities remain a big part of the Mayor’s term in charge and she plans to undertake fundraising activities in conjunction with her three chosen charities which are:

• The Pennu Charity – local charity for the year and promotes good health and well-being of the elderly.
• Afruca (Africans unite against child abuse) charity is a platform for advocating for the rights and welfare of African children following the deaths of children like Victoria Climbie and Damilola Taylor in the UK.
• Endometriosis UK helps women by offering vital support services with a helpline and support groups giving reliable information.

Councillor Alasia said: “I’m very excited about the post, and what I can do with it.

“My general theme will be that, ‘no-one should be left behind’, with a particular focus on people with disabilities.

“I’m also proud that I’m the first Caribbean woman to hold this post.”

Her husband Ibinabo Victor Alasia will act as consort while her mayoresses for her year will be Councillor Princess Bright and Ms Adedaramola Badejo.