Nigeria marked 61 years of Independence on Friday 1 October, an event that was celebrated in Barking and Dagenham with the Nigerian flag raised at Barking Town Hall.

The Leader, Councillor Darren Rodwell who attended with a number of residents and members of the community had a message for everyone celebrating the event in the borough and said: “I am delighted we’re marking and celebrating Nigeria’s 61st Independence Day, and I’d like to join the residents of Barking and Dagenham in wishing all Nigerians a happy Independence Day.

The Women’s Empowerment Awards 2021 ceremony, in its sixth year is recognising and celebrating the outstanding achievements and hard work of women from across the borough.

The finalists were chosen by a panel of judges who also had the hard task of choosing ultimate winners for the eight categories. The women were celebrated on Thursday (30 September) at a ceremony at The Broadway Theatre, Barking.

Local charities and community groups in Barking and Dagenham are being invited to apply for funding from the council’s Equality and Diversity Community Fund to help deliver events for the community.

The events will need to promote social inclusion, celebrate diversity, and support equality.

A new immersive anti-knife crime centre opened in Barking and Dagenham last night in memory of a murdered 16-year-old schoolboy.



The Ben Kinsella Exhibition will use actors to deliver hard-hitting examples of the consequences of knife crime, for the victim and offender.



The interactive workshops will tell the tragic story of Ben Kinsella, who was killed in a knife attack in Islington, north London in 2008, as well as sharing stories from local parents who have tragically lost their children in recent years.

On Sunday 19 August, Barking and Dagenham Council in partnership with local arts organisation, Studio 3 Arts, hosted the seventh annual Youth Parade, an event to celebrate the borough’s inspirational young people and the positive contribution they make to their community.

300 young people took part in the parade, which took place in Barking this year and made its way from Abbey Green to Barking Park. 

At an awards ceremony held on Thursday 23 September, Her Worshipful the Mayor, Cllr Edna Fergus awarded three very special people with the Freedom of the Borough - the highest award that can be bestowed in Barking and Dagenham to people who have made an outstanding contribution to the borough.

I am absolutely delighted to see Paul, Dora and Trevor receiving the Freedom of the Borough, and I can’t think of three more deserving people.

A three-year extension banning anti-social behaviour around Dagenham Heathway has been granted to Barking and Dagenham Council after receiving the support of residents.



The council’s Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which was originally introduced in the area in 2018, allows fixed penalty notices of £100 to be issued on the spot for unsociable activities such as spitting, harassment, drinking alcohol in the street or begging. Offenders can also be taken to court and given fines of up to £1,000.

A scheme offering residents free home improvements to stay warm, save energy and lower bills has been crowned the capital’s “best large-scale project of the year” by energy industry experts.

Barking and Dagenham Council’s Cosy Homes initiative beat competition from last year’s winner Islington Council, as well as Newham Council, to win the title at the London region of the Energy Efficiency Awards.

The prestigious accolade recognises successful large-scale energy saving projects where at least a quarter of a million pound has been spent on improving homes.

A month-long celebration of the culture, history and achievements that Black, African, and Caribbean people have brought to the country kicks off in the borough next Friday.

October marks Black History Month and events will start with a flag-raising event outside Barking Town Hall on Friday, 1 October at 10.45am.

There’s a mix of free online and in-person events to get involved in, including an online talk by Ruth D-Whyte an award-winning educationist on Tuesday, 5 October as well as events at Valence House Museum and Valence Library Arts and Culture Hub.

Barking and Dagenham Council has made the final shortlist for Employer of the Year: Gold in The Investors in People Awards 2021. In a record-breaking year for entries, with nearly three hundred organisations involved, this is an outstanding achievement and one that everyone at the council is really proud of.