Children and young people in Barking and Dagenham have got plenty of opportunities to have fun this summer as they take a break from school.
The east London borough has a wide variety of activities and events in libraries, parks, children’s centres, schools, youth and leisure centres to keep the kids occupied, and The Becontree 100 Festival and The Roundhouse Festival on 14 and 15 August promise fun and entertainment for all the family.
With 28 parks and green spaces, Barking and Dagenham is one of the greenest boroughs in London, and there are many ways for families to make the most of the great outdoors. There’s free pond-dipping, minibeast-hunting and guided walks for the whole family, and the popular Splash Park in Barking is the perfect place to cool down on a hot summer day.
We’ve had an incredibly challenging year, but one of the best things has been our renewed appreciation for the borough’s excellent green spaces.
There’s also a Wild and Free photography competition, inviting residents to take snaps of local wildlife in the borough’s parks and green spaces. There are prizes up for grabs, and selected photos could appear in next year’s Wild and Free calendar.
Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Councillor Darren Rodwell, said: “We’ve had an incredibly challenging year, but one of the best things has been our renewed appreciation for the borough’s excellent green spaces.
“It’s great to see families meeting up again in our parks, and we have plenty of places open for our young people to get active, make new friends and try new things.”
Valence House will be hosting fun workshops and interactive exhibitions for families looking to get creative, from noisy art and baking to a super slime workshop and the chance to create a fairy garden!
The council’s Brightening up the Borough campaign invites residents to decorate windows, doors, fences and gardens with vibrant colours to lift everyone’s spirits, with prizes up for grabs.
As part of the council’s Lost Hours campaign which aims to combat youth violence, parents can use a new mapping tool to locate the nearest activities and youth services, and there’s something for everyone.
And at a time where the Olympics is taking place in Tokyo, there’s every chance that Barking and Dagenham may inspire future Olympians with lots of youngsters signed up for athletics, boxing and canoeing clubs for all abilities. There are plenty of team sports like football, tag rugby, basketball, hockey, dodgeball, cricket or rounders on offer, too - an excellent way for kids to get active and make new friends.
The government’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) is funding free summer activities with lunch for children and young people eligible for free school meals. There’s lots to choose from, including sports, arts and crafts, gardening and cooking.
The council’s Healthy Lifestyles Team are running free clubs to help local children and families get active and eat more healthily. Their programmes include cooking classes, healthy tips, supermarket vouchers and free family leisure centre memberships.