An innovative programme which brings art and culture into the social services at Barking and Dagenham has gone digital. New Town Culture, a pioneering initiative which explores how art and cultural experiences can frame the work of social care to support adults and children in need of social care services.

Since it was introduced in 2018, over 600 local youngsters have benefitted from the scheme. This includes children and young people in foster care, care leavers or those at risk of sexual exploitation.

The Barking and Dagenham catering service BD Together is representing London this week, as the LACA (The School Food People) tour the country to mark National School Meals Week 2021.

Staff at All Saints Catholic School in Dagenham scooped four awards at the KM Charity’s London Teacher of the Year Awards ceremony.

 

The annual awards mark the vital contribution that school staff make to the community, recognising the expertise and dedication that makes an outstanding teacher. This year’s glittering awards ceremony was held in Brighton.

 

Laura Agudo Pueyo was recognised for her relentless drive to help pupils improve their understanding of how they learn and apply it in lessons.

 

Following the launch of Barking and Dagenham council’s extended recycling scheme in April 2021, the amount of household recycled materials that’s been collected has already increased by a whopping 10.59% as residents recycle more household items.

With COP26 now in its second week and environmental issues dominating national and international headlines, local residents have stepped up to the challenge of creating a greener world for future generations by recycling more waste at home.

Around 6,000 residents came to the community focused Winter Lantern Parade and spectacular fireworks display, which was hosted by Barking and Dagenham Council in partnership with Creative Barking & Dagenham, on Sunday 7 November.

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

Barking and Dagenham will remember all those who died in the line of duty, making the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today, with a number of memorial services taking place across the borough from 11 to 14 November.

On Thursday 11 November, Armistice Day, the council will be holding a short service at 11am at the Job Drain Memorial Statue, adjacent to the Broadway Theatre in Barking. The Dagenham Royal Naval Association will also hold a short service at the War Memorial in Dagenham Village, Church Street, Dagenham from 10.30am.

Are you a resident of Barking and Dagenham, a graduate or due to graduate by July 2022?

If yes, have you ever thought of a career working for your local council? 

We are offering local people and employees the opportunity to join our graduate scheme as a National Management Trainee to lead critical projects and services that make a real difference to the lives of our residents.

Transport for London (TfL) has launched a public consultation to help shape future step-free access priorities and improvements on the London Underground network, and the Council is urging local residents and businesses to get involved and make their voices heard in the process.



The consultation runs until 10 February 2022 and has been designed to help TfL identify what it should prioritise in making London Underground stations more accessible. The aim is to help more Londoners use the public transport network independently.

Ford Dagenham recently celebrated its 90th anniversary, with the first cars having rolled off the production line in October 1931. Since then, Dagenham has helped keep Britain on the move, producing iconic models from the Model Y to the Anglia and the Zephyr to the Fiesta.

Now a centre of engine production, Ford is still an integral part of the borough’s identity and the nearly 11 million cars, trucks and tractors built over the years of vehicle production would stretch more than 400,000km or 10 times around the world – not forgetting the 50 million engines built.

Residents of Barking and Dagenham who are not used to the digital world are being encouraged and supported to give it a go thanks to a new council initiative.

 

The council has partnered with Citizens Online, a digital skills charity, to provide resources and training to residents. The programme pairs learners with volunteers who help them to develop their digital skills – whether that’s communicating online through sending and receiving emails, creating a CV or something else.