On Saturday 19 March, Barking and Dagenham opened three of its new Community Hubs; Sue Bramley Centre, Marks Gate, and William Bellamy.

Formerly opened by Cllr Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, and Cllr Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration, the hubs aim to provide residents and neighbourhoods with the support they need, closer to home.

Working with partners from the community and voluntary sector, the council is committed to building strong relationships with communities and residents to address the key issues and challenges the borough faces. The concept of the Community Hubs is to provide a ‘one-stop shop’ for residents to provide a local network of help and support. The Hubs reflect the council's desire and ambition to put public services at the heart of our communities. 

The east London council will be opening further hubs throughout the year across the borough and will provide information, advice, and support with: 

 

•    Jobs, training, and courses  

•    Housing and homelessness 

•    Money and debt 

•    Health and wellbeing 

•    General council services 

•    Help getting online 

•    Events and activities 



Working in partnership with the police and the council’s enforcement team, one of the future key functions of the Community Hubs will be to help residents report a crime online, such as an incidents of antisocial behaviour or fly-tipping. Our Safer Neighbourhoods Police Team will also be running drop-in sessions for residents.



Councillor Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration at Barking and Dagenham Council, who has spearheaded the launch of the Community Hubs, said: “As Saturday’s launch events showed, the new hubs are about working with our local community and voluntary sector partners to bring together the people who make things happen with the people who take part, putting on activities that bring residents together, and providing the space to do so.

 

“It’s about providing residents with face to face help and support, closer to their home, when they need it. 

 

“Following the opening of the new hubs at Sue Bramley, William Bellamy and Marks Gate, I look forward to opening a further 16 hubs across the borough in the coming months”.

 

For more information about Community Hubs visit: https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/community-hubs