The role of inspirational women and their achievements is being celebrated during March next year, as part of Barking and Dagenham’s seventh annual Women’s Empowerment Month.

A highlight of the month-long celebration is the 2022 Women’s Empowerment Awards, which will honour and celebrate the borough’s amazing and inspirational women.

Dagenham Park Church of England School recently welcomed George Monbiot, author of This Can’t be Happening, and documentary filmmaker and climate justice activist Alice Aedy, to speak to students about the urgency of the climate crisis and what they can do about it.

The visit was organised by Penguin Random House, in partnership with Speakers for Schools, as part of their programme Penguin Talks. The programme allows young people to hear from and directly question a world-renowned thinker, writer, or influential figure from the publisher’s family of authors.

Barking and Dagenham Council in partnership with Creative Barking & Dagenham will be hosting a community focused Winter Lantern Parade followed by a spectacular firework display on Sunday 7 November, to celebrate the centenary of the Becontree Estate.

Part of the council’s Becontree Forever programme, the Winter Lantern Parade will take place on Chitty’s Lane to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first houses built on that road, on the estate.

With climate change now at the top of the news agenda, drivers using roads in Barking and Dagenham are being encouraged to turn their vehicle engines off when they’re not moving.



The move follows the council’s declaration of a climate emergency in 2020 and is part of its ambitious plans to create a cleaner, greener borough, by cutting unnecessary air pollution.



Leaving engines running while they’re stationary - also known as engine ‘idling’ - can have a huge impact on the health of other residents who may be walking, cycling or jogging nearby.

Residents of Barking and Dagenham who are most in need could be entitled to help and support from the Household Support Scheme and are being encouraged to get in touch with the council to get help and support through the winter.



The borough’s share of the scheme is £2.1m, which falls far short of the money our residents have lost as a result of the £20 a week Universal Credit reduction.



The funding will be available to vulnerable residents to support them with essentials over the coming months.

In part two of Operation CeCe, Barking and Dagenham Council’s Trading Standards Team have removed over 17,000 illicit cigarettes and tobacco being sold in local shops.



Operation CeCe is a London Wide Tobacco project funded by HM Revenue and Customs. The initiative supports the council’s boroughwide Tobacco Control Strategy, which aims to disrupt the supply of underage and illegal tobacco.

Pupils in year 5 at James Cambell Primary School in Dagenham presented an assembly to their parents and special guest Councillor Edna Fergus, Her Worshipful, The Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, to celebrate Black History Month.

 

The children told the story of how attitudes to race in sport have changed over time and explained how taking the knee has become a powerful symbol. They also spoke of the discrimination that black footballers and tennis players have faced and celebrated their great achievements.

 

Several businesses in Barking and Dagenham have been presented with certificates to show that they have agreed to abide by the terms of the London Responsible Retailer Agreement and will sell and store knives legally and safely. 



14 businesses originally signed up to the agreement earlier this year but following test purchases set by the council’s Trading Standards officers, three businesses failed.



The purpose of the agreement is to promote the responsible selling of knives and to prevent people under the age of 18 from acquiring them.

Next week is London Trading Standards Week and Barking and Dagenham Council will be marking the week by running several targeted operations throughout the week.

London Trading Standards Week runs from Monday 18 October to Friday 22 October and each day focuses on something different from scams to the sales of knives to young people.

Today sees the launch of an exciting new pop-up shop designed to help local young people learn new skills and sell their products within the community.

The initiative has been created by young adults from Barking and Dagenham through the Every One Every Day initiative and the Kickstart Programme. Kickstart is part of the Government-backed programme designed to provide paid employment opportunities to young adults between 16 and 24 years old on universal credit.