Local pupils from Manor Junior School aged 7 to 11 helped to launch the Borough and Me homework competition by showcasing their creative talent at Barking Town Hall on Friday 29 March.

The competition asks students to think about the borough of the future and what they think would make it a great place to live in by putting their ideas in art form, ranging from town models and murals, to creative writing and poetry.

Students presented their ideas expressed through their art work to Cllr Dominic Twomey, Deputy Leader of the council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services, and Cllr Cameron Geddes, Cabinet member for Housing and Regeneration. It was also an opportunity for students to quiz the politicians on regeneration in the borough.

Schools across the borough are being invited to get involved and will have the opportunity to exhibit their work at major borough-wide events including the One Borough Festival in July. Three winning entries will be selected to receive cash prizes for their schools.

“It’s great to see some of our young residents explore the past, present and future of the borough."

Cllr Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said:

“It’s great to see some of our young residents explore the past, present and future of the borough. The project has empowered them to discover the rich heritage of the place we call home, while thinking about how we can make it an even better place to live in.

“I am proud of the aspiration of the borough’s young people and the enthusiasm shown by the pupils today shows that the only way is up for the borough. The future architects, designers, builders, town planners have today convinced me that the future is bright for the borough and we are on the right track.”

Ben Tunnicliffe, Eco-Schools Coordinator at Manor Junior School, said:

“The Borough and Me competition has been a fabulous experience for pupils to work so closely with the council on what they want Barking and Dagenham to look like in the future. You can see the inspiration and enthusiasm reflected in their work.

“I would love to see these children look back on this project in years to come and say, 'that's when I knew I was going to be an architect.' It has also been a great chance for the children to connect with the history of the borough by talking to people in their community who have lived here since the Second World War. The project has enriched so many different areas of our children's education and has created a sense of community spirit.”

The competition officially begins on 24 May 2019 and runs until 4 June. To find out more, please visit the Borough and Me webpage.