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Rising energy bills and the increasing cost of living have been in the spotlight everywhere in recent weeks, with the squeeze on household budgets projected to continue throughout the year. A key way that people can cut their energy bills and save money is by making their homes more energy efficient.

Students from schools across Barking and Dagenham have met with Cllr Darren Rodwell, Leader of the Council, to share their views on climate change.



The pupils from Barking Abbey, Sydney Russell and Robert Clack schools raised concerns about the number of cars on the borough’s streets and fly-tipping in parks and open spaces.

As part of the recovery from the pandemic, Barking and Dagenham Council has launched a brand-new advertising campaign to encourage local residents to rediscover Barking Market. The campaign has put the market traders at the heart of the creative concept and aims to celebrate the colourful individuals who make Barking Market such a special and unique part of life in the borough. 

A new scheme to help get residents on low income and have limited or no access to the internet on their phone or home broadband has been launched to help them get better connected.

The scheme, known as the National Databank, will help residents get online and also provide digital skills training.

Under the scheme created by the Good Things Foundation and Virgin Media O2 in partnership with the council, eligible residents will be able to access up to 7GB of data and unlimited calls and text messages each month, for up to six months.

 A Barking and Dagenham resident and a council enforcement officer recently joined forces to issue a £400 for fly tipping.



Last Thursday (10.02.22), a resident reported a fly tip, located at a bus stop where Green Lane meets Walnut Tree Road via the ‘Report it’ function on the council’s website.



The dumped rubbish included a light fitting, paintings, an airer plus other homeware items.

Residents of Barking and Dagenham who need help and support to get in to work can now visit our Job Shops in person and have face-to-face appointments.



This is a welcome development following months of lockdown where residents have only been only able to contact the service by telephone and online.

Services on offer include one to one support, help to calculate in-work benefits, CV writing, guidance on application support and interview techniques as well as match candidates to local employers.

Youngsters at Ripple Primary School in Barking held their very own climate change conference as part of a special Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Week.

The theme of the STEM week was ‘Repairing our planet’, with a focus on recycling, reusing and regenerating. 

Pupils in the School Council presented a manifesto to an invited audience, which included special guest Councillor Andrew Achilleos, Barking and Dagenham Council’s Member Champion for Climate Change. 

Barking and Dagenham Council is calling on residents to do their bit to help create a cleaner and greener borough.

Earlier this month, the council launched the next phase of its Cleaner, Greener Barking and Dagenham campaign. This follows a drive to improve bin collections, increasing the amount of household waste that can be recycled, and investing in 18 brand-new bin trucks and lots of new street cleaning vehicles and equipment to help tidy up streets across the borough.

The Young Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, Labella Anum, has smashed her fundraising target of £4,000 for her chosen charity Refuge, which supports people fleeing domestic abuse. 

The youngster has worked hard with her peers in the Barking and Dagenham Youth Forum group to raise money for the charity through a series of events and challenges during her year in office. 

Barking and Dagenham Council is reminding residents that they still have time to get greener this year by signing up for the 2022 Green Garden Waste Collection service.

If residents sign up before Valentine’s Day, Monday 14 February, they can benefit by receiving all 19 scheduled collections for the year, making it the perfect green gift to give a loved one this Valentine’s Day.