As large outdoor events are sadly at a standstill and all of Barking and Dagenham Council’s ‘Summer of festivals’ event’s outside have been cancelled, we have been making it possible to bring the festival experience directly to people’s homes. This was done recently with the One Borough One Love Festival!

It is October which means Black History Month has arrived. We’re proud to present a jam-packed schedule of events and workshops to celebrate the history, achievements and culture of Black, African and Caribbean people.



Due to Covid-19 restrictions, most events will be virtual but that won’t stop us celebrating such a monumental month! The Black History Month flag will be raised outside Barking Town Hall this Thursday (1 October) and will be proudly flying high for the duration of the month.

A car repairs been shop has been told it must return to its previous use as a storage unit after it failed to follow council planning permission rules.

The land and premises at 194 - 200 High Road, Chadwell Heath had been operating as a car repairs shop from February 2019 but the council received a number of complaints from local residents about its use.

Residents of Barking and Dagenham who have been notified by the NHS Test and Trace service of a positive test, or have been in touch with a person tested positive for Covid-19 and are required to self-isolate and cannot work, can now apply for a self-isolation support payment of £500.

Barking and Dagenham Council has continued its engagement with businesses operating in the borough and has recently served notices on a number of high street retailers encouraging them to take all reasonable steps to ensure that members of the public are wearing face coverings and social distancing whilst shopping. Retailers are sending mixed messages to customers by allowing entry without a face covering.

Are you a resident of Barking and Dagenham and are you interested in a career in the care profession? If yes, then get in touch!

The council’s job shops have a number of vacancies including:

Tributes continue to pour in from across Barking and Dagenham on the passing of Roger Luxton, a well-loved education chief who also served as the borough’s first ever Director of Children’s Services as well as a deputy chief executive.

Roger served the council throughout the 1990s until his retirement in 2009. He was intensely involved in the development of Jo Richardson Community School – designed from the inside out starting with the classroom, and the creation of Trinity School.

Barking and Dagenham Council is issuing an appeal to parents to set an example to youngsters by remembering to social distance and wear a face covering when dropping off or waiting to collect their children from school.

The plea comes amid growing numbers of Covid infections nationwide.

Matthew Cole, Director of Public Health for Barking and Dagenham Council, said: “Wearing a mask and social-distancing are two of our key weapons in stopping the spread of coronavirus.

Barking and Dagenham Council is celebrating Recycle Week 2020 and asking residents to do their bit by recycling more to make the borough a greener place.

Residents can also get involved by taking a quiz on our website to test their knowledge of recycling, and be entered in a draw to win twenty £25 vouchers for Morrisons.

Running from 21 to 27 September this year and now in its 17th year, Recycle Week is a celebration of recycling.

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is one of 12 members of the Inclusive Growth Network, a new initiative hosted by the Centre for Progressive Policy and the only London Council involved.

Barking and Dagenham Council today announced its membership of a new network of councils and combined authorities leading the drive for an inclusive economic recovery across the UK. The Inclusive Growth Network is a new initiative hosted by the Centre of Progressive Policy, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and supported by the Royal Society of Arts (the RSA) and Metro Dynamics.